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Pentagon to 'rush' Patriot missiles to Ukraine in $6bn package | Pentagon to 'rush' Patriot missiles to Ukraine in $6bn package |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Patriot missile system used by Germany | A Patriot missile system used by Germany |
The Pentagon says it will "rush" Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package. | The Pentagon says it will "rush" Patriot air defence missiles and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as part of its new military aid package. |
The US will utilise $6bn (£4.8bn) for this purpose, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed on Friday. | The US will utilise $6bn (£4.8bn) for this purpose, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed on Friday. |
However, Patriot systems for launching the missiles will not be sent. | However, Patriot systems for launching the missiles will not be sent. |
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriots were "urgently" needed to face a growing Russian air threat and "can and should save lives right now". | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Patriots were "urgently" needed to face a growing Russian air threat and "can and should save lives right now". |
A source confirmed to the BBC that the $6bn was part of a $60bn aid package signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, which also includes $1bn in more immediate aid. | A source confirmed to the BBC that the $6bn was part of a $60bn aid package signed into law by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, which also includes $1bn in more immediate aid. |
Mr Austin told a news conference that the US was committing to its largest security assistance package to date and would "move immediately" to get the supplies to Ukraine. | Mr Austin told a news conference that the US was committing to its largest security assistance package to date and would "move immediately" to get the supplies to Ukraine. |
These would include air defence munitions, counter-drone systems and artillery ammunition but not Patriot missile systems. | These would include air defence munitions, counter-drone systems and artillery ammunition but not Patriot missile systems. |
"It's not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Mr Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet." | "It's not just Patriots that they [the Ukrainians] need, they need other types of systems and interceptors as well," Mr Austin said. "I would caution us all in terms of making Patriot the silver bullet." |
He added that he was confident that more of the missile systems would be made available for Kyiv soon. Conversations were ongoing with European partners, he said, to deliver additional capabilities. | He added that he was confident that more of the missile systems would be made available for Kyiv soon. Conversations were ongoing with European partners, he said, to deliver additional capabilities. |
The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, said the assistance should eliminate the Ukrainians' need to ration shells on the frontline. | The Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Brown, said the assistance should eliminate the Ukrainians' need to ration shells on the frontline. |
Ukraine's air defence plea falls short in southern Europe | Ukraine's air defence plea falls short in southern Europe |
What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine? | What weapons are being supplied to Ukraine? |
Some of the latest funding would also go to building up Ukraine's own defence industry, so that it can start manufacturing more of the ammunition it desperately needs. | Some of the latest funding would also go to building up Ukraine's own defence industry, so that it can start manufacturing more of the ammunition it desperately needs. |
Mr Austin said Russia had already increased domestic production of artillery ammunition and other weapons - as well as being propped up by supplies from Iran and North Korea. | Mr Austin said Russia had already increased domestic production of artillery ammunition and other weapons - as well as being propped up by supplies from Iran and North Korea. |
"Understand what's at stake for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the United States," he said. "If Putin prevails in Ukraine - Europe would face a security threat it hasn't seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine." | "Understand what's at stake for Ukraine, for Europe, and for the United States," he said. "If Putin prevails in Ukraine - Europe would face a security threat it hasn't seen in a lifetime. Russia will not stop in Ukraine." |
Asked whether the US aid would protect Ukrainian forces, Mr Austin said that the commitment was "material, real, and substantial" although "not instantaneous". | Asked whether the US aid would protect Ukrainian forces, Mr Austin said that the commitment was "material, real, and substantial" although "not instantaneous". |
"It's going to take some time to get it in there and distribute. The Ukrainians were able to hold - with this capability, they can do a lot better." | "It's going to take some time to get it in there and distribute. The Ukrainians were able to hold - with this capability, they can do a lot better." |
The defence secretary's words came as Ukraine warned on Friday that Russia was ramping up attacks on its railways ahead of a fresh offensive. | |
A Ukrainian security source told the AFP news agency that Moscow wanted to damage Ukrainian railway infrastructure to "paralyse deliveries and movement of military cargo". | A Ukrainian security source told the AFP news agency that Moscow wanted to damage Ukrainian railway infrastructure to "paralyse deliveries and movement of military cargo". |
On Saturday morning, Russia attacked Ukrainian energy facilities in three regions, Energy Minister German Galushchenko said. | |
US Defence Minister Lloyd Austin said the aid package was the largest committed to Ukraine to date | US Defence Minister Lloyd Austin said the aid package was the largest committed to Ukraine to date |
Ukraine only has a handful of Patriots to complement other Western missile defence systems and existing stocks of Soviet-era surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), such as the S-300. | Ukraine only has a handful of Patriots to complement other Western missile defence systems and existing stocks of Soviet-era surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), such as the S-300. |
They are the most capable and expensive air defence systems that Ukraine has. Each Patriot battery costs around $1bn (£800m), and each missile costs nearly $4m. | They are the most capable and expensive air defence systems that Ukraine has. Each Patriot battery costs around $1bn (£800m), and each missile costs nearly $4m. |
Germany has already promised an extra Patriot system - and its defence and foreign ministers appealed to their European counterparts earlier this month to respond urgently. | Germany has already promised an extra Patriot system - and its defence and foreign ministers appealed to their European counterparts earlier this month to respond urgently. |
Greece has stocks of Patriots and S-300s but said none could be spared. | Greece has stocks of Patriots and S-300s but said none could be spared. |
"We explained why we cannot do it," Greek Prime Minister Kyrios Mitsotakis told Skai TV. | "We explained why we cannot do it," Greek Prime Minister Kyrios Mitsotakis told Skai TV. |
His said his country's air defences were "critical systems for the protection of Greek air space". | His said his country's air defences were "critical systems for the protection of Greek air space". |
According to reports, Spain will supply some Patriot missiles but not a full system. | According to reports, Spain will supply some Patriot missiles but not a full system. |
Recent months have seen Kyiv step up its calls for Western assistance as its stocks of ammunition are depleted and Russia makes steady gains. | Recent months have seen Kyiv step up its calls for Western assistance as its stocks of ammunition are depleted and Russia makes steady gains. |
Ukrainian officials have blamed delays in military aid from the US and other Western allies for the loss of lives and territory. | Ukrainian officials have blamed delays in military aid from the US and other Western allies for the loss of lives and territory. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
War in Ukraine | War in Ukraine |
United States | United States |
Ukraine | Ukraine |