Biden reallocates Patriots to Ukraine, delays Polish order
The White House plans to halt all open orders for Patriot systems and interceptor missiles and redirect all deliveries to Ukraine, reports the British newspaper Financial Times. Poland is also among those awaiting American weaponry.
The decision by the Joe Biden administration, as reported by "FT," will be announced on Thursday. The British newspaper notes that the US President, during the G7 summit last week, declared that he had made commitments to provide Ukraine with additional air defence systems.
Joe Biden stated that five countries agreed to send Patriots and other air defence systems to Ukraine, and other countries that ordered them will have to wait as "Everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met."
"Financial Times" bases its information on three independent sources. They informed the newspaper that Thursday’s statement from the Biden administration will codify his commitment to Kyiv and ensure that Ukraine receives the Patriot systems to protect critical infrastructure and Ukrainian cities from intensified Russian shelling.
Poland awaits Patriots
The newspaper states that Poland, Romania, and Germany are among the European countries that placed orders for Patriot systems. Spain also has an open order for these launchers, while a coalition of NATO countries placed an order for 1,000 missiles for these launchers in January.
Spain, Greece, and Romania have Patriots in their arsenals but have refused to agree to their transfer to Ukraine. Poland explains that its Patriots protect the infrastructure used to transport Western weapons to Ukraine, and therefore, they are already deployed to protect its neighbour from Russian aggression. Italy stated in June that it would send Kyiv a second SAMP/T air defence system, a European alternative to the Patriot.
"FT" reports that Patriot systems are the American arsenal's most advanced air defence weapons. They have a radar system and mobile launchers to fire interceptor missiles towards incoming missiles or aircraft. Ukraine currently has at least four Patriot systems, delivered by the USA and Germany.
