US Reportedly Approves Patriots, Long-Range Missiles Transfers to Kyiv
The US has reportedly approved Germany’s transfer of 125 long-range artillery missiles and 100 Patriot air-defense missiles on Friday.
Berlin’s transfers came after Germany’s new chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office on Tuesday, with the West – including the US – joining hands in a rare call to press Moscow into accepting a 30-day unconditional ceasefire on Saturday.
The New York Times (NYT), citing “a congressional official,” reported the approval in its Saturday report, adding that though originating from Germany, the weapons still require US export approval.
The report also addressed Kyiv’s dilemma in foreign aid, namely that Europe might not be able to step up in time to replace US weaponry.
Yehor Chernev, the deputy chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s committee on national security, defense and intelligence, told the NYT that Ukraine is short on long-range missiles, artillery and ballistic air-defense systems such as the Patriots.
“Europe is trying to replace the assistance that we lost from the United States, but unfortunately, they don’t have the capacity to do this,” Chernev told the NYT.
Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, echoed a similar sentiment.
“They are hitting the dual problem of having to rearm themselves and supply Ukraine, and industrial capacity isn’t big enough to do both,” Savill told the NYT, adding that Europe might be able to replace US aid for Kyiv “in the medium to long-term.”
However, he cautioned that it would require “the will” to do so, which he doubts exists.
The dilemma came as US President Donald Trump signaled an intention to roll back the US’s military presence in Europe after his return to office, with military aid to Ukraine under his predecessor Joe Biden expected to run out this summer.
But on May 1, the Trump administration informed Congress of its intention to green-light the export of defense-related products to Ukraine through direct commercial sales (DCS) of $50 million or more, Kyiv Post has learned from diplomatic sources.
The proposed sale covers the export of defense articles, including technical data, and defense services to Ukraine.
Source: Kyiv Post