US finalising plan to send Patriot air defence system to Ukraine

The United States is finalising plans to send its sophisticated Patriot air defence system to Ukraine following an urgent request from Kyiv, which wants more robust weapons to shoot down Russian missiles and drones that have devastated the country’s energy infrastructure and left millions without heating in the bitter cold of winter, Qazet.az reports.

Washington could announce a decision on the Patriot as soon as Thursday, the Reuters and Associated Press news agencies reported on Tuesday, citing US government officials.

The Pentagon declined to comment and there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned NATO against equipping Kyiv with Patriot missile defences, and it is likely the Kremlin will view the move as an escalation.