The United States will supply Ukraine Patriot air defense system to help counter air strikes from Moscow, the State Department announced on Wednesday, coinciding with the arrival of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Today’s aid includes for the first time the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of shooting down cruise missilesshort-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously supplied air defense systems,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The leader of US diplomacy made this announcement shortly before the President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, is received by his US counterpart, Joe Biden, at the White House, on his first trip abroad since the beginning of the war in the European country.
For weeks, there had been speculation about the delivery of these anti-aircraft batteries that Kiev had insistently requested to intercept Russian missiles that have destroyed key infrastructure in Ukraine.
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“Today’s package includes for the first time the Patriot air defense system, capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at higher altitudes than previously delivered defense systems,” Blinken said in a statement. Note.
The ad includes a Patriot anti-aircraft battery and ammunition, as well as artillery for other defensive systems, vehicles, weapons and grenades.
A Patriot battery typically includes target detection and tracking radars, computers, generators, and a control station, as well as eight mini-launchers with four ready-to-fire missiles.
With this new package, military aid delivered by the United States to Ukraine amounts to 21.3 billion dollars since the beginning of the Russian invasion on February 24th.
The US Secretary of State said that in recent months Moscow tried to ‘wipe Ukraine off the map’ and who is now using the winter cold as a weapon against the people of Ukraine.
“We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes for Kiev to defend itself and strengthen itself in a possible negotiating table” with Russia, Blinken said.
The American capital is preparing this Wednesday to receive Zelenski, who will meet Biden in the White House and He will speak to both houses of Congress.
His speech comes at a key moment, as some members of the Republican Party have expressed doubts that Washington should continue providing military aid to Ukraine due to the high cost to American taxpayers.
Source: EFE and AFP
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Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.