Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the United States has recommenced the provision of military supplies to Ukraine following the suspension of specific critical arms shipments by Washington last week. US President Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that he had reached an agreement with NATO for the US to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine through the alliance, following a surge of Russian aerial attacks.

Zelensky had expressed concerns about how the pause would affect Ukraine’s defenses. On the other hand, reports indicate that supplies of Patriot systems and precision artillery shells had been halted. Russia has increased drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, resulting in record civilian casualties.

In response to these attacks, Zelensky requested 10 Patriot systems. Patriot batteries are capable of detecting and intercepting incoming missiles and are considered among the world’s best air defense systems.

The most recent agreement announced by President Trump will involve NATO acquiring Patriot systems from the United States, which will subsequently be distributed to Ukraine. He stated that the alliance would “reimburse the full cost.” NATO’s funding is derived from contributions made by its member states, including the United States.

President Zelensky indicated in Rome on Thursday that Germany was prepared to finance two Patriot systems, while Norway would supply one, and other European partners were also willing to contribute. He highlighted the “new European defense packages” in his message on Friday evening, further noting that Ukraine’s military would collaborate with US envoy Keith Kellogg during the upcoming week.

US Encouraged Allies to Provide Weapons to Ukraine – Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Friday that he had urged allies, including Germany and Spain, to transfer some of their existing Patriot batteries to Ukraine, as they could be advanced to the country. “We have encouraged our NATO allies to provide these weapons… since they are in their stockpiles, we can then establish financial agreements whereby they can procure replacements,” he stated.

The renewed efforts to supply air defenses to Ukraine come in the wake of a barrage of deadly aerial attacks, which have shown signs of increasingly frustrating the US administration as it seeks a negotiated peace.

Russian Strikes have intensified in the Past Weeks

Ukraine experienced a record-breaking 728 drone attacks overnight on Tuesday, with the Ukrainian president cautioning that Russia seeks to increase this number to 1,000. In June, Ukraine recorded the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 individuals killed and over 1,300 injured, according to the United Nations. On Tuesday, Trump announced that the United States would provide additional military aid to Kyiv, citing the ongoing severity of the attacks as the rationale.

Following a telephone conversation with Russia’s Vladimir Putin last week, Trump expressed dissatisfaction, stating he was “not happy” that progress towards ending the war had not been achieved. He further remarked that Putin’s “very nice” demeanor had proven to be insubstantial. During an interview with NBC News, Trump indicated that he would deliver a “major statement” regarding Russia on Monday, although he did not specify the content of the announcement.

The New York Times reported that a Patriot battery previously stationed in Israel will be sent to Ukraine after being refurbished in the US. Negotiations regarding the Israeli battery have been ongoing for some time. In June, a senior official in Kyiv stated that it had already been forwarded to the Trump administration, but Kyiv was still awaiting receipt of it.

Patriot air defense batteries, and the interceptor missiles they deploy, occupy a pivotal role in safeguarding Ukrainian cities, as well as civilian and military infrastructure, from Russian cruise and ballistic missile assaults.

In conjunction with Soviet-era S-300 surface-to-air missile systems and Western-produced NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), the Patriots contribute to Ukraine’s maintenance of what is often described in military circles as a “layered defense”. The Patriot is a highly effective weapon system equipped with sophisticated radar and tracking capabilities, boasting a high interception success rate.