The Biden administration has decided to expedite the delivery of air defense interceptors to Ukraine, redirecting resources away from allied nations, U.S. administration officials revealed.
The White House is set to officially announce this decision later today. Biden had alluded to this move during last week's G7 meeting in Italy.
While the administration has not disclosed the exact number of interceptors to be sent, a senior U.S. official indicated that Ukraine will be prioritized over the next 16 months, with missiles being delivered to Kyiv as they come off the production line. Ukraine is expected to receive interceptors for both the Patriot missile systems and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (Nasams).
Among the nations likely affected by this decision are South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both of which had contracts to purchase interceptors.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized his country’s urgent need for at least seven more Patriot batteries to bolster defenses against Russian attacks. Last week, the U.S. announced it would send an additional Patriot battery to Ukraine and is seeking other systems from allies. On Thursday, Romania announced it would also send a Patriot system.
The administration began considering this shift in April, as Russia intensified its assault on Kharkiv. At that time, U.S. military aid to Ukraine had slowed, and Congress was deliberating over a foreign aid package that included nearly $61 billion for Ukraine. After the bill passed later that month, the Pentagon accelerated its aid efforts, including the provision of Patriot interceptors, and began steps to delay deliveries to allied partners.
Biden infirmed Zelensky about the new U.S. plan during last week’s G7 meeting in Italy. The White House also briefed congressional leadership, key committees, and affected allies around the same time.
This comes after the administration's past stance has been that no single system would give Ukraine a definitive advantage.
Ukrainian officials have declined to comment on this development.
