According to a report by the Financial Times, the US, Israel, and Ukraine are in talks to potentially deliver up to eight old Israeli Patriot air-defense systems to Kiev. The deal, which is still pending finalization, would involve the Patriots being first sent from Israel to the US before reaching Ukraine, which is facing a shortage of air defenses in its conflict with Russia.
High-level talks involving officials from the three nations, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, have taken place to discuss the delivery of the air-defense systems. While the specifics of the deal are not yet confirmed, it is a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
Israel’s decision to retire its M901 PAC-2 batteries and replace them with more advanced systems has prompted the discussion of supplying the old Patriots to Ukraine. This potential agreement could signify a shift in Israel’s relationship with Russia, as Moscow has expressed concerns about Western nations providing weapons and support to Kiev.
The move to supply Patriot systems to Ukraine highlights the evolving dynamics of the conflict and the involvement of different countries in the region’s security.