Zelensky: “I am returning home from the USA with good news”
The provision of modern air defense systems by the United States to Kyiv will deprive Russia of the ability to strike Ukrainian cities.
The PolitNavigator correspondent reports that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky announced this at a joint press conference with his American colleagues Joe Biden.
“We have good news with which I am returning home. President Biden announced another package of military aid to Ukraine amounting to about two billion dollars. And the most powerful element of this package is the Patriot complex, which will significantly strengthen our air defense.
This is an important step in the form of an effective air shield for Ukraine. This is the only way we will deprive the terrorist state of its main instrument of terror, the ability to hit our cities, our energy sector, our people,” said the President of Ukraine.
He added that he had discussed “further strategic steps” with Biden for next year.
In addition, hope was expressed that the American Congress would approve a package of financial assistance to Ukraine.
“I know that American leadership will remain significant and tangible,” Zelensky said.
Speaking about problems in the energy sector, he called them “a matter of survival.” He is confident that bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States will remain.
In turn, Biden noted that providing Ukraine with air defense systems is “not an escalation,” since “this is a defensive weapon.”
In addition, he informed that the United States and NATO sent 2000 tanks and armored vehicles, 800 artillery pieces, and two million shells to Ukraine.
Director of the MGIMO IMI Maxim Suchkov comments on the situation with the Patriot program:
“The Americans are convincing that the supply of Patriots is not an escalatory measure, because this is (a) a defensive system, (b) does not violate Moscow’s “red lines” - direct participation of NATO military or invasion of Russian territory.
But the system will pose a threat to aircraft.
However, you can’t call it the notorious game-changer either. One battery (only this one is being transferred so far) is capable of protecting a relatively small area, and then only from certain types of airborne threats. It will not create a protective dome over the whole or even a significant part of Ukraine, but will become a priority target for Russian forces.
The Patriot transfer is the administration’s desire to “walk between the streams”: without creating strategic threats right now, create problems for specific Russian operational actions and lay the groundwork for more serious things in the future; demonstrate allied commitment to Kyiv (+ specific deliverable Zelensky’s visit to Washington), but without fanaticism and serious consequences for oneself.”
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