US Approves Upgrading Patriot Missile System To Ukraine

JAKARTA - The United States on Tuesday approved a US$105 million sale to Ukraine to upgrade and maintain the Patriot missile defense system, amid a Russian attack that continued to attack its neighboring country.

The State Department said it had notified Congress of an agreement on parts, training, and services for the Patriots, which Ukraine relies on to shoot down incoming missiles.

The sale includes an upgrade from M901 to M903, which can fire more missiles at once.

"The proposed sale will increase Ukraine's ability to deal with current and future threats," the State Department said in a statement.

It is known that President Donald Trump has long criticized US military aid to Ukraine, which amounts to around 67 billion US dollars since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Although President Trump called for an end to the war, Russia has rejected calls for a long-term ceasefire and continues to launch attacks on Ukraine.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky said Ukraine needed 25 additional Patriot systems to fend off the escalation of Russian attacks.