US announces $1.85bn arms package for Ukraine, including Patriot missile

The United States on Wednesday announced it will provide Ukraine with the advanced Patriot air defense system as part of a new $1.85 billion military package to the war-ravaged country.

According to Press TV, the announcement came in parallel with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Washington, his first overseas trip since Russia launched an special operation in Ukraine in late February.

The new military assistance comes after repeated requests from Kiev for the Patriot system, which many experts believe could be a risky proposition. 

"Today's assistance for the first time includes the Patriot Air Defense System, capable of bringing down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles, and aircraft at a significantly higher ceiling than previously provided air defense systems," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Made by US aerospace and military conglomerate Raytheon, the MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system initially developed to intercept high-flying aircraft.

The system was modified in the 1980s to focus on the new threat of tactical ballistic missiles.

Reports about the US plans to supply the Patriot system to Ukraine had been doing rounds for several weeks amid Russia’s rapid territorial gains in Ukraine and the escalation of ground and aerial fighting.

The new package was unveiled as Zelenskiy headed to Washington on Wednesday to meet President Joe Biden, address Congress and seek "weapons, weapons, and more weapons".

"President Biden will announce a significant new package of nearly $2 billion of security assistance for Ukraine," the White House statement said in a statement on Tuesday ahead of the visit.

ME