**Israel Denies Sending Patriot Systems to Ukraine Amid Conflicting Claims**
In a surprising turn of events, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has denied claims made by its own ambassador in Kyiv that Israel had transferred retired Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. The denial was made on June 10, contradicting statements made by Ambassador Michael Brodsky, who said in an interview that Israel had agreed to transfer the systems to Ukraine.
According to Ynet, an Israeli news outlet, the Foreign Ministry stated: “Israel has not transferred such systems to Ukraine.” This statement directly contradicts Brodsky’s comments, where he claimed: “The Patriot systems that we once received from the United States are now in Ukraine. When people say that Israel did not help militarily, that is not true.”
Ukraine has been consistently pressing its Western partners to bolster its air defenses, warning that current capabilities are insufficient to counter Russian missile and drone assaults. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Heorhii Tykhyi, welcomed signals from Israel about its readiness to provide military assistance but neither confirmed nor denied the delivery of Israeli Patriots.
The controversy surrounding the alleged transfer of Patriot systems has sparked confusion among Kyiv officials, who are eager to bolster their air defenses against Russia’s relentless aerial attacks. On June 9, Ukraine’s Air Force reported a record overnight attack by Russia, with nearly 500 aerial weapons launched at Ukrainian targets.
In recent weeks, Russia has carried out near-nightly aerial assaults on Ukraine, leading the country to express its urgent need for more air defenses. President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly underscored Kyiv’s intention to purchase 10 Patriot batteries for $15 billion to protect densely populated areas. Despite these appeals, former US President Donald Trump dismissed the request in April, accusing Zelensky of “always looking to purchase missiles.”
The conflicting claims surrounding the alleged transfer of Israeli Patriot systems have raised questions about the true nature of Israel’s military assistance to Ukraine. As tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, the need for effective air defenses has never been more pressing.
**What Happened?**
* The Israeli Foreign Ministry denied claims made by Ambassador Michael Brodsky that Israel had transferred retired Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
* Ukrainian officials have welcomed signals from Israel about its readiness to provide military assistance but neither confirmed nor denied the delivery of Israeli Patriots.
* Russia has carried out near-nightly aerial assaults on Ukraine, leading the country to express its urgent need for more air defenses.
**What’s Next?**
* The controversy surrounding the alleged transfer of Patriot systems is likely to continue, with Ukrainian officials seeking clarification from Israel and Western partners.
* As tensions between Russia and Ukraine persist, the importance of effective air defenses will remain a pressing concern for Kyiv.
