The first of the promised Patriots is already in Ukraine – The Telegraph
25 July 13:10
One of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems promised by the United States has already arrived in Ukraine. This was reported by the British newspaper The Telegraph in a large article about Donald Trump’s changing position on the war in Ukraine.
“By the end of that week, thanks to an agreement with Germany, the Patriot air defense system and other interceptor missiles had already arrived in Ukraine,”
– the newspaper writes, referring to last week, when Trump announced the Patriot for Ukraine and the activity around this statement.
According to The Telegraph, the delivery of the system was the result of a new agreement between the United States and Germany. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to finance the transfer of these systems to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense amid escalating Russian strikes.
A shipment of Patriot missile interceptors, including the PAC-3 variant, was lifted from a temporary freeze by the Pentagon after Trump’s personal order. According to The Telegraph journalist Joe Barnes, the decision was made after General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special representative for Ukraine, reported to the president on the strike on the Polish consulate in Kyiv and the massive attack with drones and missiles.
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The text notes that this step was a turning point in the Trump administration’s approach to the Ukrainian issue. Before that, the Pentagon temporarily froze arms sales without the White House’s approval, which caused outrage even among Republicans.
After active diplomatic work and the intervention of European allies, including German Chancellor and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the United States agreed to resume deliveries of Patriot. Part of the cost will be paid for by Germany, Norway and other European countries, which will be able to count on replacing the systems from the United States next year.
Patriot systems are considered one of the most effective means of countering Russian ballistic and cruise missiles. In 2023-2024, they were already used to intercept Kinzhal, Iskander, and Kalibr missiles.
In general, according to the publication’s sources, the provision of the Patriot was a “turning point” in Trump’s policy on the war in Ukraine, which until then had looked much more restrained.
Meanwhile, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that there is currently an agreement to supply three Patriot missiles – two from Germany and one from Norway. Ukraine is asking for ten.
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