Biden approves transfer of one more Patriot to Ukraine, Norway allocates €240 million: how our air defense will be further strengthened

US President Joe Biden has approved the transfer of another Patriot missile system to Ukraine. The decision was made last week: the system is currently in Poland.

This was reported by The New York Times. Meanwhile, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense announced the allocation of 240 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defense against Russian attacks.

The New York Times, citing senior White House and military officials, reported that Biden had approved the deployment of another Patriot missile system in Ukraine. The decision is due to the need to strengthen Ukraine's defense against Russia's increasingly brutal air attacks.

"Biden's decision was made last week, officials said, after a series of high-level meetings and internal debates on how to meet Ukraine's urgent needs for enhanced air defense without jeopardizing U.S. readiness," the report said.

The system to be delivered to Ukraine is currently in Poland, where it has been protecting rotational forces of U.S. troops returning to the United States.

"According to U.S. officials, the system could be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine in the next few days, depending on any maintenance or modifications it requires. One of the best air defense systems in the United States, the Patriot includes a powerful radar system and mobile launchers that effectively shoot down air weapons," the publication notes.

At the same time, Patriot is one of the most scarce systems in the US arsenal. A Pentagon official told the publication that the US Army has deployed only 14 of them in the United States and around the world.

"American allies also have Patriots, and two of those countries have sent a couple to Ukraine, but U.S. officials say they hope European nations will send more," The New York Times writes.

So far, two countries have responded to the call. Germany has deployed one Patriot system, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the second will be deployed by the end of June. The Netherlands has also deployed one such system, and negotiations are underway to send a second one.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said that the country will allocate 240 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.

"Today Germany confirmed that together with Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands it will finance the re-procurement of the Patriot system so that 100 Patriot missiles can be quickly delivered to Ukraine. Norway will provide 125 million euros for this cooperation," the statement said.

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