**Ukraine to Get Two Additional Patriot Missile Systems**
The United States is set to transfer two more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, the New York Times reports. This move comes as Russia intensifies its missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian soil.
According to the report, one of the systems being transferred is an older model based in Israel that has been refurbished. The second system is expected to come from either Germany or Greece, with logistics still under discussion. Both systems are expected to arrive in Ukraine by this summer.
Currently, Ukraine operates six Patriot systems, with two more undergoing maintenance. The new additions would bring the total number of systems to 10, most of which are deployed around the capital city of Kyiv.
**Russia’s Missile Strikes Intensify**
The reinforcement comes as Russia launches increasingly intense missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian territory. On April 24, a coordinated overnight assault involved 70 missiles and 150 drones, with Kyiv suffering the brunt of the attack. Thirteen people were killed and nearly 90 injured in the deadliest strike on the capital since last summer.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko confirmed that Ukraine’s air defenses were unable to cope with the sheer volume of threats. The attack highlighted Russia’s strategy of overwhelming the Patriot systems by launching drones and missiles simultaneously.
**Trump Weighs In**
In response to the escalating violence, President Trump issued a rare public rebuke via social media: “Vladimir, STOP!” He later questioned Russia’s commitment to ending the conflict: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly called for additional air defense support. After the April 24 attack, he renewed Ukraine’s offer to purchase Patriot systems directly.
**Aid Clock Ticks**
The transfer of two more Patriot missile systems comes amid improving ties between Trump and Zelenskyy. Uncertainty surrounds who authorized the transfer, with officials declining to confirm whether it was Trump or a Biden-era decision.
Kateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), said the renewed Russian strikes are part of a broader psychological and political campaign: “The Kremlin is trying to pressure Ukrainians into capitulation, even as Russia continues to struggle on the battlefield.”
Each Patriot battery costs $1 billion and requires 90 personnel. Their rarity means deployment decisions are highly strategic.
**Pentagon Confirms Continued Aid**
The Pentagon confirmed continued aid from existing packages, with White House spokesman James Hewitt reiterating that President Trump wants the war in Ukraine to end and the killing to stop.
Russia places S1 Pantsir anti-air systems on towers and elevated ramps near Moscow to fend off drone attacks and showcase public safety, according to British intelligence.
This new allocation follows a package announced on July 29, which included eight Leopard 1 A5 tanks delivered in cooperation with Denmark.
