The Financial Times has reported that the US, Israel, and Ukraine are in discussions to deliver up to eight old Israeli Patriot air-defense systems to Kiev, citing people familiar with the negotiations.
The deal, which has yet to be finalized, would likely see the Patriots first sent from Israel to the US before being supplied to Ukraine, which is experiencing a shortage of air defenses in the conflict with Russia.
Recent talks on the possible delivery of the US-made systems involved ministers and senior officials from the three nations, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, and Vladimir Zelensky’s chief of staff Andrey Yermak, the sources said.
While the supply of eight defense systems was discussed, it’s possible that not all of them would end up in Ukraine, the FT reported.
When questioned about the report, Kuleba mentioned that Ukraine is actively collaborating with various nations worldwide to acquire additional Patriot systems. The foreign minister emphasized to FT that the authorities in Kiev are calling on all countries possessing such systems to offer them to Ukraine.
Throughout the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev, Israel has solely provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, abstaining from sending any weaponry. A year ago, the nation turned down a request from Vladimir Zelensky for Israeli Iron Dome air-defense systems. At that time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel required all of its Iron Dome batteries to ensure “freedom of action” in Syria, a region with a significant Russian military presence. He also warned that if Israeli weapons were seized on the battlefield in Ukraine, they could potentially end up in the hands of Iran.
The FT highlighted that a potential agreement to supply Patriot systems to Ukraine “would signify a change” in Israel’s relationship with Russia.
Moscow has consistently cautioned that the delivery of weapons and ammunition to Kiev by the US and its allies will not deter Russia from achieving its military objectives, but rather prolong the conflict. Russian officials argue that the provision of arms, intelligence sharing, and training of Ukrainian forces effectively makes Western nations de facto participants in the conflict.
