Preparations for the rapid transfer of additional "Patriot" air defense systems in Ukraine is underway, said today the head of the European Command of the United States Armed Forces (USEUCOM) and the Supreme Commander of NATO forces in Europe, General Alexis Grinkevich, quoted by Reuters, writes BTA.
The agency notes that this is happening at a time when Ukraine is subjected to some of the heaviest Russian air attacks since the beginning of the war nearly three and a half years ago.
"Preparations are underway, we are working very closely with the Germans on the transfer of the "Patriot", Grinkevich said at a conference in the German city of Wiesbaden, Hesse province. "The guidelines that were given to me were to get them out as quickly as possible," he stressed.
This week, US President Donald Trump announced a tougher stance against Russia over the war it started more than three years ago in Ukraine and promised new missiles and other weapons for Kiev. On Tuesday, he said some Patriot missiles from Germany were already on their way to Ukraine.
There could be a meeting of Patriot-owning countries and donors to Ukraine on July 23 to find additional systems for Kiev's air defenses, chaired by Grinkevich, a source close to the talks said. The expert-level meeting is expected to take place at NATO headquarters near the Belgian city of Mons.
Grinkevich said there was also the issue of the sequencing of supplies to Ukraine.
"Secretary of State Marco Rubio just talked about equipment that is in Europe and can be moved faster than something that comes off the assembly line," Grinkevich noted.
"But then the assembly line can be used to replenish" of the donations.
He said he had no idea how many Patriot systems might be released for delivery to Kiev. "There will be many more, we will move as quickly as possible on this issue," he said.
After meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington on Monday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said a decision on the delivery of two U.S.-made Patriot systems to Kiev could be made within days or weeks.
Germany has already provided Kiev with three of its Patriot systems. Ukraine values the air defense system as its best means of intercepting ballistic and hypersonic missiles launched by Russia.