Why it matters: Zelensky asked in a speech to the US Congress last month that the US and its European allies impose a no-fly zone or allow Ukraine to “close the skies” by facilitating the transfer of a fighter. Soviet-era jet or anti-aircraft systems. The latter: President Biden thanked the Slovak government in a statement on Friday and said the United States would reposition a Patriot missile system in Slovakia.
The Patriot missile system will be manned by members of the US forces at the invitation of the Slovak government. “This development of Patriot capabilities in Slovakia is in line with our previous efforts to strengthen NATO’s defense capabilities and to demonstrate the requirements of collective security in accordance with Article 5 of the NATO Treaty,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
What they say: “I would like to confirm that Slovakia has provided Ukraine with an S-300 air defense system. The Ukrainian nation is bravely defending its sovereign country and so are we. “Under Russian aggression,” Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger wrote on Twitter. The big picture: In addition to the S-300s, Ukraine has received tanks and infantry fighting vehicles from the Czech Republic as the Donbas region prepares for a major Russian offensive.
“As the Russian army repositions itself for the next phase of this war, I urge my government to continue to work hard to locate and provide the Ukrainian army with the advanced weapons capabilities it needs to defend its country,” he said. Biden in his statement. Friday. British Foreign Secretary Liz Tras told reporters on Thursday that NATO countries had expressed support for the provision of “new and heavier equipment” to Ukraine as anger mounted over Russia’s atrocities against civilians. “The battle for Donbass will remind you of World War II with large companies, thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, planes, artillery,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba told a NATO summit on Thursday. help them.
Go deeper: Editor’s note: This story has been updated with more details about the Patriot air defense system and comments from President Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
