The United States of America is planning to deliver a Patriot air-defence system to Ukraine, shifting it from Israel after it is refurbished. According to officials, another similar system could be sent over by Greece or Germany. The move comes after US President Donald Trump signed a minerals deal with Ukraine and threatened to leave the peace talks.
The US had earlier paused all military aid to Ukraine after a disagreement with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
According to officials, the deal with Israel was in place in September before Trump was elected to office. The defence department has asserted in a statement that it “continues to provide equipment to Ukraine” from previously authorized packages, as reported by The New York Times (NYT).
The move is witnessed amid a three-day ceasefire administered in the region while Putin and his allies are in Moscow for Victory Day. Zelenskyy has claimed to ignore the ceasefire deeming it to be a theatrical performance.
According to NYT, the security council has not revealed details pertaining to the strength and placement of the defence systems.
The Patriot missile defence system has a warhead that weighs at 73 kgs while possessing a Mach 5 speed. It has a range of 43 miles with an altitude of 79,500 feet.
President Zelensky had claimed on Saturday that the minerals deal would translate into more weapons aid from the United States.
