Politico: Ukraine and the United States are negotiating the supply of Gray Eagle

According to publications Politico, Ukraine and the United States continue negotiations on the supply of high-quality weapons to Kyiv – F-16 aircraft, Patriot air defense systems and Gray Eagle drones. At the same time, negotiations from the public plane went behind the scenes.

Negotiations are taking place within the framework of long-term agreements on military assistance. They involve advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and key interlocutors in Washington.

So far, the United States has limited itself to supplying more artillery shells and missiles for the HIMARS MLRS. However, three sources told the publication that negotiations that the F-16, Patriot and Gray Eagle could be provided in the future are ongoing.

The United States sees the risks of such supplies in that, firstly, it may be perceived extremely negatively by Moscow, and secondly, complex maintenance and support of these systems may create additional difficulties for Ukraine itself. In addition, Patriot systems, for example, are needed to ensure the security of the West. They are among the most deployed, both in the US and in Europe, as well as in the Middle East and the Pacific region. Also on the F-16 aircraft, the delivery of which is awaited by US allies in NATO. For example, the delivery of 14 such aircraft to Slovakia has already been postponed for a year – until 2024. Planes are also waiting for Taiwan.

Talks about the delivery of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone have also been going on for several months and so far there has been no progress. In the case of these UAVs, the US fears that the secret technology used in these drones could reach Russia if the Gray Eagle is shot down and captured by the Russian military.