The Biden administration is holding discussions with Israel and Ukraine about the possibility of transferring aging Patriot air defense systems currently in Israel to Ukraine as it continues to defend itself in the war with Russia, according to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the discussions. The assessment comes as the U.S. urgently prioritizes air defenses for Kyiv.
No final agreement has been reached to transfer the crucial systems — and the countries are still working out specific logistics — but the administration official said he is hopeful the efforts can succeed, especially given the effectiveness of the Patriot batteries already operating in Ukraine.
The US and Germany have already sent Patriot systems to Ukraine, but the Biden administration has made clear that Kiev needs more as Russia continues to launch airstrikes on the country.
It is unclear how long the process of finalizing the details and transferring the systems to Ukraine would take. The systems would likely need to be transferred to the US first, where they would undergo refurbishment, before being sent to Ukraine.
If completed, the transfer would mark a significant shift in Israel’s stance on the war in Ukraine. Israel has been careful not to openly criticize Russia while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained on the fence with President Vladimir Putin. Russia warned in 2022 that supplying Israeli weapons to Ukraine would “destroy all interstate relations between our countries.”
Although Israel has participated in the US-led multinational group to send supplies to Ukraine, the Israeli government has been reluctant to openly supply weapons to Kiev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for Iron Dome missile interceptors months after the Russian invasion began. But Israel said it would only help Ukraine develop an air defense system rather than send weapons, an offer that Ukraine’s ambassador to Israel said was “too late.”
The Financial Times first reported news of the ongoing discussions.
In April, the Israel Defense Forces said it would soon retire its Patriot systems, which were first fully integrated into the military in 1991. The first Israeli Patriot interception occurred during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, when the system shot down a drone launched from Gaza.
But Patriot missiles are not Israel’s primary air defense system. To date, the Israel Defense Forces says Israeli Patriot batteries have conducted 19 interceptions, including nine during the current war. Israel relies much more on its short-range Iron Dome air defense system, as well as its medium-range David’s Sling and long-range Arrow missiles.
Last week, the Biden administration announced it was prioritizing Ukraine’s critical air defense capabilities over those of other countries to “ensure Ukraine’s survival,” in what was described as a “quite extraordinary” policy adjustment at a critical time for Ukraine.
“We work with all our partners to take into account what the defense needs are [da Ucrânia] and we will do everything we can to support them,” said Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder at a news conference last week. “The bottom line message here for our allies and partners is: if there’s an existential threat, you know, we’re going to step up and we’re going to help them.”
Source: CNN Brasil
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