Ukraine-Israel Negotiations on Air Defense Systems and Patriot Missiles

Negotiations between Ukraine and Israel regarding the supply of air defense systems are ongoing, but initially, American Patriot systems were not part of the discussion. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during a press conference.

Zelensky noted that the agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerned air defense systems before the conflict with Hamas began in the fall of 2023. At that time, the discussion was not about Patriot systems, but the Israeli-Indian Barak 8 system. As a result of the Hamas attack, Ukraine never received this system.

Moreover, the Patriot system, agreed upon later, has also not yet been delivered.

“We received information that we could count on some older Patriot models. That is, there is functional weaponry, and there are donors to restore it. Part of the systems in Israel can operate if slightly refurbished. But ultimately, one system was handed over by Israel to the United States of America for restoration. We have not yet seen this system on Ukrainian territory.”

Earlier, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied information published by Ynet about transferring Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.

“These statements are not true. Israel has not transferred Patriot systems to Ukraine.”

Additionally, it was reported that Russia demanded clarifications from Israel regarding information about the transfer of Patriot systems.

On June 9, Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, confirmed that Israel had transferred Patriot air defense systems to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were received from the United States in the early 1990s.