Washington reportedly sending patriot missiles from Israel to Ukraine

The Trump administration instructed the U.S. military to transfer some 90 Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine from storage facilities in Israel via Poland, the news outlet Axios reported, citing three informed sources.

The move will likely please European leaders who have previously expressed concerns that President Donald Trump would dramatically reduce Washington’s military aid to Ukraine. The Pentagon views the Patriot missiles as a top priority in the efforts to defend Ukraine from continued Russian aerial attacks. 

In April 2024, the Israeli Air Force decommissioned the aging Patriot air defense systems, which were delivered to the Jewish state over three decades ago during the first Gulf War against Iraq. The development of its advanced aerial defense systems eventually made the Patriot systems less relevant for Israel and mainly left in storage.

This development reportedly prompted Ukrainian officials to suggest that the U.S. transfers the decommissioned Patriot missile systems from Israel to Ukraine, which currently lacks a comprehensive aerial defense system. Israel thereby returned the Patriots systems to the U.S., which refitted them before sending them to Ukraine.

The transfer of Patriot missiles is reportedly the most important military delivery from Israel to Ukraine since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022. 

However, Ukrainian officials noted that the Israeli government was initially reluctant and feared the transfer of the Patriot missiles to Ukraine would provoke Russia to supply more advanced weapons to Iran. An unnamed Ukrainian official told Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to discuss the matter for several weeks before finally greenlighting the transfer in September. 

Ukrainian officials have repeatedly complained that Israel is unwilling to supply advanced military equipment to Ukraine due to concerns about Russia’s reaction. 

In February 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Ukraine as a modern David fighting against a Russian Goliath. The Ukrainian leader expressed hope that Israel would deliver its advanced David Sling aerial defense system to Ukraine. 

“We have no alternative but to defeat the Russian Goliath. Being David is fighting and we are fighting. Being David is having a sling to win,” Zelenskyy said.

While Israel has still not delivered the more advanced David Sling system the transfer of the Patriot missiles could potentially reduce diplomatic tensions between Ukraine and Israel. 

While Jerusalem eventually greenlighted the Patriot missile transfer, an unnamed senior Israeli official told Axios journalist Barak Ravid that Jerusalem had informed Moscow in advance of the deal, emphasizing that Israel was "only returning the Patriot system to the U.S," adding that "it is not known to us whether it was delivered to Ukraine."

In other words, Israel made it clear to Russia that it was an American decision to transfer Patriot missiles to Ukraine. 

Meanwhile, diplomatic relations between Israel and Russia have deteriorated sharply since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022. Israel has increasingly joined other democratic states in condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Russia has responded by blasting Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and its terrorist proxies Hamas and Hezbollah.

Furthermore, the Western blockade against Moscow has prompted Russia to form a close military alliance with the Iranian regime. Tehran has provided Russia with drone technology while Moscow has provided Iran with various military equipment.