US Halts Patriot Missile Orders to Prioritize Ukraine Defense, Citing Five Countries' Support

Jun 20, 2024, 10:20 AM

The US government is set to halt all open orders for Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles until Ukraine has sufficient defenses against Russia's air attacks. This decision, to be announced today, follows President Biden's recent commitment to deliver additional military aid to Ukraine. The move will redirect systems destined for other countries, including Poland, Romania, Germany, and Spain, to Ukraine. The decision aims to ensure Ukraine can protect its cities and critical infrastructure. The Financial Times reports that no Patriots have been ordered for Ukraine yet, but this raises the possibility of future orders. Three people with knowledge of the decision said the move would be announced Thursday. The reports came after President Biden announced that the U.S. had secured commitments from five countries to supply Patriot batteries and other air defense systems to Kyiv.