The White House announced the dispatch of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine

The United States will provide Ukraine with a new $1.85 billion military aid package, which for the first time will include the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system (SAM). Document published on the US Department of State website.

“Today’s assistance includes, for the first time, a Patriot air defense system capable of shooting down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at a significantly higher level than previously provided air defense systems,” the document says.

Earlier today US President Joe Biden ordered provide Ukraine with another $1 billion military aid package. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also announced an additional $850 million aid package. He said that with these payments, the total amount of military assistance Ukraine has received from the United States will reach $21.9 billion.

On December 13, CNN reported that the US presidential administration had completed preparations for sending Patriot systems to Ukraine. According to the publication, this should have been announced last week. However, at that time in the White House this information not confirmed.

December 15 Russian Embassy in the USA warned Washington on the consequences if the Patriot air defense system is sent to Ukraine. This decision by the United States is a “provocative step” and could lead to “unpredictable consequences,” the embassy said. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov named Patriot complexes are a legitimate target for Russia if NATO countries supply them to Ukraine.

Russia’s special operation in Ukraine began on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the protection of the inhabitants of Donbass, as well as the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, its goals. In response, Western countries imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia and began to provide military assistance to Ukraine. Military assistance from Western countries to Ukraine in total reached $40 billion, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said November 30.

At the same time, the Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized the supply of Western weapons to Kyiv. In particular, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has repeatedly pointed out that pumping Ukraine with weapons brings NATO closer to the dangerous line of a direct military clash with Russia.