**U.S. Considers Sending Ukraine Additional Patriot Air Defense System**
In a move that could mark a significant shift in military aid to Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering sending the country an additional Patriot air defense system. This would be the first major weapons transfer from the Trump administration to Kyiv.
The news comes after days of contradictory messages from the White House regarding military aid to Ukraine. On July 2, the Pentagon announced a halt in weapons shipments to Kyiv due to dwindling U.S. stockpiles. However, Trump later claimed he wasn’t responsible for the decision and wanted to send more weapons to Ukraine.
A U.S. defense official told the Wall Street Journal that Trump has asked the Pentagon to explore options for supplying Ukraine with more arms, including a Patriot air defense system. Officials are also reportedly looking into whether other nations can provide Patriots to Kyiv.
This development aligns with recent media reports about plans to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses. Axios reported on July 8 that the White House is pursuing a plan to have Germany sell another Patriot battery to Ukraine, with the U.S. and European allies splitting the cost of the purchase. Sources told the outlet that Trump also pledged to send 10 Patriot interceptor missiles to Kyiv.
If the U.S. provides Ukraine with an additional Patriot system, it would mark the first time Trump has approved a major military aid package to Kyiv that wasn’t previously greenlighted by former President Joe Biden.
**Background and Context**
Washington has thus far provided Kyiv with three Patriots, while Germany and a group of European countries have sent one each. Not all systems are in use at the same time due to maintenance issues. The U.S.-made air defense systems are in high demand around the world, and Ukraine faces an urgent need for them amid increased Russian aerial attacks.
Each Patriot system consists of two or three launchers, a radar, a command and control element, and interceptor missiles. Patriot missiles are also in short supply globally, with even the U.S. having only 25% of the interceptors required by its defense readiness plans.
According to one of the officials who spoke to the WSJ, the U.S. military would be able to supply an additional Patriot to Ukraine if ordered by the White House.
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