U.S. Biden approves second Patriot air defense system for Ukraine

The New York Times reported the information, citing unnamed senior U.S. administration and military officials.

It noted that Biden's decision was made last week after high-level meetings and internal debates on how to meet Ukraine's urgent air defense needs without jeopardizing U.S. combat readiness.

“The new Patriot system — the second that the United States has sent to Ukraine — will come from Poland, where it has been protecting a rotational force of American troops who will be returning to the United States,” the officials said.

According to US officials, the system could be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine in the next few days, depending on the maintenance or modifications it requires.

Officials describe moving critical systems around the world's hot spots as a shell game, assessing which global crisis requires them to protect U.S. troops, bases and allies the most.

There has been relatively little high-level discussion about whether to supply Ukraine with another Patriot, sources say.

• On Tuesday, June 11, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the delivery of a new aid package to Ukraine, which will include a Patriot air defense system, an IRIS-T, Gepard, and ammunition. At the same time, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that the country, together with its allies, is providing 100 missiles for Patriot batteries.