247
Ukraine is looking for more details on a large US arms package offered by Donald Trump earlier this week, which mentioned 17 Patriot air defense systems. The announcement comes in the middle of a White House meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and has put Ukrainian officials in a state of confusion regarding the nature and extent of the help.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency deputy head, Maj Gen Vadym Skibitskyi, affirmed that the information is still not certain. He explained that Ukraine appreciates the assistance but requires more detail as to if Trump meant entire Patriot batteries, solo launchers, or interceptor missiles only. “Seventeen batteries would be huge,” he explained, citing that every Patriot system consists of six launchers and large amounts of radar and command equipment.
Germany and the Netherlands have already contributed three complete Patriot systems 18 launchers back in line with Trump’s reported figure. Skibitskyi added that additional data from the Pentagon should come soon.
The general further added that Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also talked about the potential to send long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles during a phone call this month, although no final deal was made. These missiles, with a range to Moscow, are difficult to deliver without strategic bombers or sea platforms, which Ukraine does not have.
In the meantime, negotiations are ongoing on granting the US clearance for Ukraine to employ Atacams missiles up to their entire range within Russian borders. These missiles presently range only up to the extent of the Russian-held territories in Ukraine. Granting permission to penetrate further would enable Kyiv to target key Russian military facilities, many of which have shifted well past the 500km line from Ukraine’s border.
President Zelenskyy described his recent phone call with Trump as “really good,” noting their discussion of bringing a fair peace and ending the salvo of drone and missile attacks on cities in Ukraine. European nations such as Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands have come out in support of Trump’s initiative to supply US arms to Ukraine through European allies.
Even with warming ties, tensions linger in Kyiv over late US sanctions against Russia, with Trump issuing a new deadline of 50 days. Trump’s envoy, Gen. Keith Kellogg, is now touring Ukraine and has met with military chiefs to receive briefings on Russia’s summer campaign.
Trump is unpredictable and more of a businessman than a politician, Skibitskyi said. “He’s not a classical politician,” he said, “but he is surrounded by more experienced people this time.
