(Washington) US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin on Tuesday encouraged countries with Patriot missile systems to donate them to Ukraine, which is expecting more air defense weapons against Russia.
Lloyd Austin’s call comes a week after US President Joe Biden signed into law a bill providing $61 billion in military and economic aid for Kyiv, sparking a slight revival of hope among Ukrainians.
“There are countries that have Patriots, and what we are doing is continuing to mobilize these countries,” declared the American Minister of Defense during a hearing before elected representatives of the House of Representatives.
“I myself have spoken with the leaders of several countries, right here, over the last two weeks, to encourage them to provide more equipment,” he added, without mentioning the names of the countries concerned.
Several European countries have these systems, including Spain, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his calls for help on Monday during a visit to Kyiv by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
“Artillery, (shells of) 155 mm caliber, long-range weapons and anti-aircraft defense, mainly Patriot systems. This is what our partners have and what should now work here in Ukraine to destroy Russia’s terrorist ambitions,” the Ukrainian head of state said.
In mid-April, NATO members agreed to send more anti-aircraft defense systems, including Patriot batteries, Kyiv having requested at least seven, in the face of increasing Russian pressure on the ground.