The Trump administration will send a Patriot air defence system to Kyiv—following the earlier U.S. withdrawal from formal peace talks. This military aid will likely be complemented by a second system, drawing from American resources based now in either Germany or Greece.
The move is reported as signalling growing U.S. frustration with Russia’s President Putin who, to date, has made few tangible concessions at the negotiations. On closer inspection, however, this deal was secured by former president Joe Biden in September, who agreed with Israel to redeploy the main Patriot system.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has requested multiple air defence systems from Western governments; two of his current ones are being refurbished. Separately, he has threatened (albeit equivocally) to attack Moscow during its Victory Day celebrations, during which Putin has sought a three-day ceasefire.
Paradoxically, while this deal is a holdover from Trump’s predecessor, once deployed, the system itself could protect U.S. citizens working in Ukraine as the result of the pro-peace minerals deal agreed recently.
