Ukraine has confirmed the arrival of a US-made Patriot air defense system supplied by Israel, with two more batteries expected in the coming months. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the delivery on Saturday, noting that the new systems will play a vital role in strengthening Kyiv’s defenses against daily Russian missile and drone strikes. With winter approaching, Ukraine is prioritizing the protection of its energy grid, which has been a frequent target of Russian attacks.
Israel, which initially sought to remain neutral after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, avoided imposing sanctions on Moscow. However, its stance has shifted in recent months as relations with Russia deteriorated. Tensions grew after Moscow deepened its partnership with Iran—accused by the West of supplying attack drones to Russia—and following the Kremlin’s criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza.
Zelenskyy also revealed that Kyiv and Washington will hold a series of meetings between September and October to discuss further arms acquisitions under multiple procurement programs. While financing details were not disclosed, Ukraine has already submitted a list of weapons it hopes to purchase from the United States, part of a broader $90 billion arms package outlined earlier in August.
When asked about reports suggesting Ukraine’s interest in acquiring long-range US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles, Zelenskyy said Kyiv was open to “separate agreements on specific types of weapons,” but declined to elaborate, citing the sensitivity of the negotiations. He emphasized that Ukraine and the United States now share “a mutual understanding of the battlefield situation and the progress that can be made,” adding that his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump was “very good.”
