US to send critical Patriot missile system to Ukraine; Russia says won't stand in its way

Reacting to the development, Russia said that Ukraine acquiring Patriot missiles from the United States would not help settle the conflict or prevent Moscow from achieving its goals.

Washington, Dec 23: As Russia continues its brutal attacks against critical infrastructure in Ukraine, the United States has announced that it would provide its key Patriot missile defence system to Ukraine to assist it in its fight against Russia.

"Over the past three hundred days, the Kremlin has tried and failed to wipe Ukraine off the map. Now, Russia is trying to weaponize winter by freezing and starving Ukrainian civilians and forcing families from their homes," said a statement from US Department of State.

"In response, President Biden announced that the United States is providing critical new and additional military capabilities to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's ongoing brutal and unprovoked assault," it said.

"Pursuant to a delegation of authority from the President, today I am authorising our twenty-eighth drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine since August 2021. This $1 billion drawdown will provide Ukraine with expanded air defense and precision-strike capabilities, as well as additional munitions and critical equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively to defend itself on the battlefield," the statement said.

The Department of Defense is also announced an additional $850 million of security assistance for Ukraine today under its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. This will bring total US military assistance for Ukraine to an unprecedented $21.9 billion since the beginning of the Administration.

"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," the statement said.

"The United States will continue to work closely with more than 50 allies and partners worldwide in support of the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary courage and boundless determination. We will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, so that Kyiv can continue to defend itself and be in the strongest possible position at the negotiating table when the time comes," the US state department said.

"Russia alone could end this war today. Until it does so, we stand United with Ukraine," the statement concludes.

Reacting to the development, Russia said that Ukraine acquiring Patriot missiles from the United States would not help settle the conflict or prevent Moscow from achieving its goals.

President Vladimir Putin dismissed the patriot defence system as "quite old", telling reporters Moscow would find a way to counter it.