A US-made Patriot missile system based in Israel is expected to be sent to Ukraine, The New York Times reported Sunday, May 4, citing American and Israeli officials. The move, aimed at boosting Ukraine’s air defenses, still requires approval from Washington.
The US Department of Defense confirmed it continues to supply Ukraine with equipment from previously authorized packages, but declined to comment on the reported Israeli transfer.
Ukraine currently has eight Patriot systems in its arsenal, though only six are operational, according to NYT. Two systems are undergoing periodic maintenance and possibl repairs. If Israel and another country – possibly Germany or Greece – each contribute one more, Ukraine’s total could rise to 10.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday, May 2, that a new mineral resources agreement between Kyiv and Washington might lead to more air defense deliveries.
Under US export laws, even third-party transfers of Patriot systems require American approval. Two US officials told NYT that the Israeli unit being prepared for Ukraine is an older version and is expected to arrive this summer.
Each Patriot system costs at least $1 billion and requires about 90 trained personnel to operate. The first US shipments arrived in Ukraine in April 2023. By early 2024, missile shortages were already being felt, the report says.
The deliveries still stem from aid packages approved during President Joe Biden’s administration. These are expected to be completed by this summer.
When asked about Zelensky’s recent request for more Patriots, President Donald Trump said the Ukrainian leader is “always looking to purchase missiles.”
On Wednesday, April 30, Kyiv and Washington signed a long-awaited deal on Wednesday establishing a joint fund that shares in the investment in, and profits from, the extraction of Ukrainian natural resources.
The deal marks what State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce called a “significant milestone” in post-war reconstruction efforts.
On the same day, the Trump administration informed Congress of its intention to green-light the export of defense-related products to Ukraine through direct commercial sales (DCS) of $50 million or more, Kyiv Post has learned from diplomatic sources. It’s the first arms deal since Trump took office again.