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| Ignoring Russian Warnings, US Announces Deliveries of Patriot Missile Systems to Ukraine |
Washington - The Secretary of State of the United States (US), Antony Blinken, announced that Washington will send a Patriot missile system to Ukraine. This advanced air defense system is included in additional US security assistance of USD 1.85 billion or around IDR 28.7 trillion for Ukraine.
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“Based on a delegation of authority from the President, I am authorizing today the withdrawal of our twenty-eighth US arms and equipment to Ukraine since August 2021. This $1 billion withdrawal will provide Ukraine with expanded air defense and precision strike capabilities, as well as additional ammunition and essential equipment that used by Ukraine very effectively to defend itself on the battlefield,” Blinken said in a statement.
The top US diplomat said the new support comes as the Kremlin has tried and failed to wipe Ukraine off the map and is now seeking to "weaponize winter" by attacking infrastructure. "Today's assistance includes the Patriot Air Defense System for the first time, capable of taking down cruise missiles, short-range ballistic missiles and aircraft at much higher altitudes than previously provided air defense systems," Blinken said.
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Blinken reiterated that the US will continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, so that Kiev can continue to defend itself and be in the strongest position at the negotiating table when the time comes. Blinken added that the Pentagon will also announce new $850 million in security assistance to Ukraine later today.
Blinken's remarks followed similar ones from the White House, all coming on the same day as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to Washington. The Patriot missile system is an advanced long-range air defense system that is highly effective at intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles.
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Previously, Russia again gave a warning to the US that it would provide more weapons assistance to Ukraine where the Patriot missile system was included. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that a shipment of American weapons to Ukraine would lead to an escalation of the conflict in the war-torn country.
"The supply of weapons (by Washington) continues, the range of weapons supplied expands. All this, of course, leads to an aggravation of the conflict and, in fact, this does not bode well for Ukraine," Peskov said.