US will move Patriot missiles from Israel to bolster Ukraine’s defences, reports claim

A Patriot missile system, which Ukraine says its needs desperately to fend off Russian air strikes - Sean Murphy/AP Photo

The United States is considering moving some of its Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine to help shore up its air defences against Russia, it has been claimed.

Under the proposed deal being discussed, up to eight Patriot missile defence systems in Israel would be transferred to the US and then on to Ukraine, the Financial Times reported.

It follows an announcement by Israel In April that it would start retiring its eight Patriot batteries, which are more than 30 years old, to replace them with more advanced systems.

A recent statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the system was a “significant positive force” when it was first deployed in 1991, but added that it would “soon end its service in the Israeli air force”.

According to the Financial Times, which cited five sources familiar with the talks, the broad outline of the deal has been discussed by senior officials and ministers in Israel, the US,  and Ukraine.

Ukraine has stepped up lobbying of its Western allies for more air defence systems as it struggles to intercept Russian missiles, such as the powerful Kinzhal.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was in Brussels on Thursday to discuss further support for Ukraine and to sign a pact with the EU on defence cooperation, a step that would have been unthinkable before the Russian invasion in 2022.

The United States is also working to get more air defence systems into Ukraine, having paused the delivery of Patriot batteries to other allies so that the war in Ukraine can be prioritised.

It was not immediately clear how effective the ageing Patriot systems would be against Russian missiles if they were deployed to Ukraine.

They continue to be deployed in Israel to defend against air attacks by Hezbollah in Lebanon, amid concerns that a fresh Israel-Lebanon conflict could break out in the coming months.

Allowing the supply of Israel-based air defence systems to Kyiv would be a major step for the Israeli government, which for years has resisted calls from the West to provide high-powered defence systems such as the Iron Dome to Ukraine.

There had been fears such a move would cause problems in Russia, a country with which Israel has a delicate relationship. Russia has a large Jewish population and a growing problem with anti-Semitism.

Moscow also wields huge influence in Syria, where the Israeli army frequently launches air strikes on Iranian-backed targets, such as Hezbollah forces and other militia groups.

However, the decision by Iran – Israel’s sworn enemy – to provide huge quantities of missiles and drones to the Russian army has heaped pressure on Israel to lend Kyiv greater support.

“It would be fortuitous if these older Patriot missiles were put to good use in another theatre before they aged out...especially given the levels of US military aid to Israel,” Tom Karako, an analyst at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, told the Financial Times.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, did not confirm the deal when approached for comment by the Financial Times but acknowledged that Kyiv was working to secure further deliveries of Patriot systems from its allies.

“Ukraine continues to work with various countries around the world on obtaining additional Patriot systems. We once again urge all countries that have such systems to provide them to Ukraine,” he said.

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