The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden will announce that the United States will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia, The Guardian reports. Kyiv leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to arrive in the United States on Wednesday, his first trip outside the country since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Joe Biden will announce a “significant” new package of almost two billion dollars of security assistance to Ukraine, the White House said.

According to the cited source, the new package of military aid to Ukraine will include a battery of Patriot missiles “to protect the Ukrainian people from Russia’s barbaric attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.”

“We will train the Ukrainian military how to operate a Patriot missile battery in a third country,” the White House added.

According to CNN, the US will train the Ukrainian military in Germany to operate the Patriot system.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi, visit to the USA

The US announcement of a new military aid package to Ukraine coincides with Zelenskyi’s visit to Washington on Wednesday, just a day after he visited the front lines in eastern Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden released a statement in which he announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyi is going to the White House on Wednesday and will then address Congress, The Guardian reports. Both leaders will also make joint statements to the press.

White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said Biden invited Zelenskyi to Washington “to underscore the United States’ continued commitment to Ukraine”: “This visit will underscore the United States’ strong commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary, including by providing economic, humanitarian and military aid”.

She also reported that during Zelenskyi’s visit, Biden will announce a package of security assistance “to help Ukraine protect itself from Russian aggression.”

Volodymyr Zelenskyi also confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday morning that he is going to Washington and will address the US Congress: “I am going to the US to strengthen Ukraine’s resistance and defense capabilities. President Biden and I will discuss, in particular, cooperation between Ukraine and the USA. I will also address Congress and hold a series of bilateral meetings.”

Why is Zelensky’s visit to the USA important 301 days after the start of the war

The visit of the Ukrainian leader to Washington will last only a few hours, but it will symbolically strengthen the role of the United States as an arsenal of democracy in the fierce war for the survival of Ukraine, writes CNN.

Hastily orchestrated by U.S. and Ukrainian officials over the past 10 days, the wartime trip is intended to demonstrate America’s continued commitment to Ukraine at a time when Biden’s ability to maintain that support at home and abroad is under threat, CNN said.

With this visit, Biden will publicly reinforce a fundamental message to President Zelenskyi, the Ukrainian people, the American people, and the entire world that the United States will support Ukraine as long as necessary,” said a high-ranking official. administration

To what extent can the Patriot system affect the fate of the war?

Patriot missile systems are among the most sought-after allies in contested areas of the world as a preferred anti-missile shield.

In Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific, they defend against potential attacks from Iran, Somalia and North Korea. But experts say the effectiveness of the system is limited and it may not change the situation in the war in Ukraine, reports Al Jazeera.

The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system that was first deployed in the 1980s and can engage aircraft, cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles. Each battery has a fire section (four launchers mounted/fixed each on a truck, radar, fire control unit, generators and other equipment).

Against cruise missiles and drones, Ian Williams notes, the Patriot’s value is limited because their radar has a 120-degree coverage angle, while NASAMS monitors the horizon 360 degrees, AFP reported.

A Patriot battery can require up to 90 soldiers to operate and maintain, and for several months the US has been reluctant to supply Ukraine with the complex system.

There were also concerns that the deployment of the system could provoke Russia, or that there was a risk that a launched missile could strike inside Russia, potentially escalating the conflict further.

The Patriot air defense system, which the United States is expected to provide to Ukraine, will send a strong signal of support to Kiev and should strengthen the country’s air defenses at a time when Russia is bombing its infrastructure, but the equipment is not a panacea, AFP wrote.

A former senior military official familiar with the Patriot system said it would be effective against short-range ballistic missiles and sent a strong signal of US support, but the battery would not change the course of the war.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal with Ukraine has not yet been made public, said the Patriot battery has a long range but can only cover a limited area. For example, “Patriot” can effectively protect a small military base, but cannot fully protect a large city like Kyiv. They can cover only part of the city.