In First, Zelensky Confirms Israel Sent Patriot Missile Battery To Ukraine, With More On Way
On Saturday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed for the first time ever that Israel has supplied his country with a Patriot air defense system. He indicated it has already been operational for several weeks.
“The system has been installed,” Zelensky said while boasting that at least two more batteries from Israel are expected to arrive at some point in the fall.
It was a surprised announcement, given that for over three years of the Ukraine war, Israel has been persistent in resisting calls to send arms to Israel (typo – to Ukraine), given it is more concerned with keeping its delicate relations with Moscow positive. Until now it had only sent non-lethal and humanitarian aid.
And Kyiv Post has newly acknowledged, “The deployment confirmed an intricate plan, first reported by US media in May, that involved Washington requesting that Israel return an older Patriot system for refurbishment before it was routed to Kyiv.”
SO….NOT independent of USA but rather with their help to refurbish the units sent to Ukraine — wonder who paid for the repairs and new missiles (if any)?