Ukraine has received U.S.-made Patriot air defence systems from Israel, marking a notable shift in regional alliances and Israel’s stance amidst ongoing global tensions, as Kyiv accelerates efforts to bolster its defences against Russian attacks.
In a significant development marking a shift in geopolitical alignments, Ukraine has received a U.S.-made Patriot air defence system from Israel, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed in September 2025. The delivery, which ...
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The Ukrainian capital has faced relentless Russian barrages targeting critical infrastructure, including heating facilities, a vulnerability particularly acute ahead of the winter season. “The Israeli (Patriot) system is operating in Ukraine. It has been operating for a month. We will receive two Patriot systems in the fall,” Zelenskyy told journalists during a briefing after returning from a visit to New York, where he addressed the United Nations and met with U.S. President Donald Trump and senior officials.
While Israel initially adopted a neutral position following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, refraining from sanctions against Moscow unlike Western allies, the geopolitical landscape has evolved. Relations between Russia and Israel have cooled, partly due to Russia’s growing ties with Iran, which Western nations accuse of supplying drones used by Russian forces in Ukraine, and Russia’s condemnation of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Reports over the past year have traced the complex logistics behind the Patriot systems’ transfer. In early 2025, the United States facilitated the movement of approximately 90 Patriot air defence interceptors from Israeli storage to Poland, intended for delivery to Ukraine as part of bolstering its air defence architecture amid ongoing Russian strikes. The Israeli government confirmed returning a Patriot system to the U.S. but reportedly was not informed about its onward transfer to Ukraine. Subsequent discussions in April 2025 involved U.S., Israeli, and Ukrainian officials negotiating the provision of up to eight Israeli-owned Patriot missile systems, with Israel planning to send them to the U.S. before their ultimate delivery to Kyiv.
Despite these arrangements, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy disclosed in June 2025 that Ukraine had yet to receive the Patriot systems directly from Israel, noting that earlier plans to acquire Israeli Barak 8 systems had shifted to requesting older Patriot systems via U.S. facilitation. One system had been sent by Israel to the U.S. for refurbishment, but it had not arrived in Ukraine at that time. However, by June 2025, Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Mykhailo Brodsky, confirmed the transfer of Patriot systems to Ukraine, underscoring the culmination of months of discreet negotiations involving all three parties.
This move represents a strategic recalibration by Israel in the context of its delicate regional and international relationships. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov sharply criticised Israel for its recent military actions in the Middle East and accused it of threatening regional stability. Lavrov also condemned Western powers for undermining diplomacy on Iran, reflecting the fraught intersecting tensions in the region.
President Zelenskyy has underscored ongoing negotiations with the U.S. regarding weapon purchases totaling $90 billion, with detailed lists of Ukraine’s defence needs submitted to Washington. Discussions scheduled for the fall aim to clarify financing and procurement mechanisms, reflecting Kyiv’s proactive stance in reinforcing its defence capabilities.
In sum, the confirmed deployment of Israeli-origin Patriot systems, facilitated by the U.S., to Ukraine signals Israel’s palpable move away from neutrality in the Ukraine-Russia war. This shift not only bolsters Ukraine’s defences but also marks a realignment amid the complex geopolitical web involving Russia, Iran, Israel, and the West. It illustrates how the conflict continues to reshape alliances and military assistance dynamics on the global stage.
Source: Noah Wire Services