**US President Trump Signals Support for Additional Patriot Missiles to Ukraine**
In a significant development, US President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States will consider providing additional missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems. This announcement comes as Russia escalates its air strikes against Ukraine.
Speaking during a NATO summit in The Hague on June 25, Trump said: “They (Ukraine) do want to have the anti-missiles… We’re going to see if we can make some available.” He also mentioned that the Patriots are “very hard to get” and that the US needs them too.
This shift in stance is a welcome development for Ukraine, which has been facing an increasingly dire situation on the ground. Just hours before Trump’s statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the US President and discussed the purchase of American air defense systems to shield Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
**The Need for Patriot Missiles**
Ukraine has been repeatedly requesting additional Patriots to bolster its defenses against Russian attacks. The Patriot system is a high-precision, surface-to-air missile platform capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic threats. Zelensky has said that Ukraine needs at least seven more systems to defend its most at-risk regions.
The US had previously dismissed Ukraine’s requests for additional Patriots, with Trump accusing the Ukrainian president of “always looking to purchase missiles” and falsely blaming Ukraine for provoking the war. However, it seems that the situation on the ground has changed, and the US is now reconsidering its stance.
**Russia’s Escalation**
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its drone and missile strikes against Ukraine. Just days before Trump’s statement, Moscow launched an attack on the city of Dnipro, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 300 others.
Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine is ready to buy American equipment and support US manufacturers. He also discussed the potential for co-production of drones with European partners.
**A New Era in US-Ukraine Relations?**
This announcement marks a significant shift in US policy towards Ukraine. The diversion of 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally intended for Ukraine to American forces in the Middle East was seen as a major blow to Ukrainian defenses.
While it remains to be seen whether the US will ultimately provide additional Patriots to Ukraine, this development is a positive sign that Washington is rethinking its approach to the conflict. As Zelensky said: “Ukraine is ready to buy this equipment and support American weapons manufacturers. Europe can help. We also discussed the potential for co-production of drones. We can strengthen each other.”
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