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Ukrainian PM acknowledges risks for air defense system stemming from US aid suspension

According to Denis Shmygal, although Ukraine has "supplies at its warehouses from various partners," US Patriot systems are making the biggest contribution to Ukraine’s air defenses

MOSCOW, March 4. /TASS/. The halt of US military aid is fraught with threats to Ukraine’s air defense system due to potential problems with the servicing and ammunition for the Patriot surface-to-air guided air and missile defense system, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.

According to Shmygal, although Ukraine has "supplies at its warehouses from various partners," US Patriot systems are making the biggest contribution to Ukraine’s air defenses. "Patriot is currently the only system capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. In other words, we will face risks in terms of providing Patriot systems with repairs, maintenance, and ammunition," he told national television when asked about consequences of Washington’s decision to suspend military aid.

"Such risks do exist. But I am convinced that we will find options with the United States and our partners of how to prevent these risks from materializing," he stressed.

On March 3, Reuters reported, citing a White House official, that US President Donald Trump had issued an executive order to suspend military assistance to Kiev. Later, a Pentagon spokesman confirmed these reports to TASS. The move came days after a heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky during the latter’s visit to Washington.

According to Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) member Alexey Goncharenko (put on Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists), the suspension of military aid would entail shortages of missiles for Ukraine’s air defense systems and rounds for HIMARS multiple rocket launchers. Vadim Skibitsky, deputy chief of the Ukrainian defense ministry's main intelligence directorate, has acknowledged that the country's air defense system was under significant strain, with the Russian army "bypassing all air defense tools.".

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