The United States has resumed military supplies to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after Washington halted some shipments of critical arms last week.
US President Donald Trump told NBC News that he had made a deal with NATO for the US to send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine via the alliance, after a surge of Russian aerial attacks.
Zelensky had raised concerns about the impact the pause would have on Ukraine’s defences, with supplies of Patriot systems and precision artillery shells among the armaments reported to have been stopped.
Russia has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, causing record civilian casualties.
In the wake of these attacks, Zelensky requested 10 Patriot systems. Patriot batteries detect and intercept oncoming missiles and are regarded as one of the world’s best air defence systems.
The latest deal announced by Trump will see Nato buy Patriot systems from the US and then distribute them to Ukraine.
He said the alliance would “reimburse the full cost”. Nato is funded through the contributions of its members, including the US.
