US has no Patriots to spare for Ukraine – White House — RT World News

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington is not willing to risk undermining its security, but the US government is working around the clock to pressure the European Union, NATO and other partners to share their air defense capabilities with Kiev instead.

Virtual processing interview President Vladimir Zelensky called for the formation of the so-called Ukrainian Defense Contact Group on Friday “At least seven” Patriot Batteries are his sponsors, but Kiev's main backer has nothing to spare.

He added: “American Patriot systems are now being deployed around the world, including in the Middle East, to protect American forces.” Sullivan told MSNBC later in the day.

“If we could unlock more US Patriot batteries we would send them. But we do a lot of supplying the actual missiles that go into those batteries that are launched. The American official insisted.

The Pentagon has already pledged to supply additional Patriot munitions as part of the plan “Historical” A $6 billion aid package was announced on Friday. However, the interceptors could take months or even years to arrive, because the batch will not come from the Pentagon's existing stockpile. “Represent beginning of the contracting process.” With the American defense industry.

A single MIM-104 Patriot battery, made by US arms giant Raytheon, costs more than $1 billion and consists of multiple truck-mounted modules, including power, radar, antenna, engagement control and other support vehicles – plus up to eight launchers With interceptor missiles.

The United States has produced more than 1,100 Patriot bombers over the years, and hundreds are estimated to be in active service and in storage — but it has sent only one battery to Ukraine. Germany donated two full batteries, while the Netherlands participated in two bombers.

“In the meantime, what we will do is work with European partners and partners in other parts of the world to get them to provide additional air defense capacity to Ukraine,” he added. Sullivan added.

Besides Germany and the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Greece and Romania are also among the European countries using Patriot systems. While Berlin recently promised to provide Ukraine with another Patriot battery, Warsaw said earlier this week that it had no backup air defense systems.

Spain said it would only provide air defense missiles to Kiev, but not the actual systems. Greece also rejected the pressure, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis saying no action would be taken “This may jeopardize our country's deterrence or air defense capabilities, even from afar.”