Biden assures that sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine is not an escalation with Russia

The president of USA, Joe Bidenaffirmed this Wednesday that the shipment of the anti-aircraft defense system patriot a Ukraine should not be interpreted as escalation with Russia.

“It is a defense system, it is not an escalation, it is defensive”, Biden said when asked at a press conference about the way in which Moscow can perceive the new arms shipment from Washington to Ukraine.

LOOK HERE: US delivers $1.85 billion in new military aid to Ukraine (including powerful Patriot system)

Joining Biden was the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskywho considered that the Patriot missiles “will significantly strengthen” Ukrainian airspace.

US President Joe Biden (R) with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) as he welcomes him to the White House, in Washington, DC, US, on December 21. of 2022 in Washington. (Photo by EFE/EPA/Oliver Contreras /POOL) (Oliver Contreras /POOL/)

“It is a very important step to create a safe airspace for Ukraine.Zelensky said.

In addition, joking in response to another journalist’s question, he said that once they receive the Patriot missiles, they will ask the United States for more missile systems of this type.

Shortly before Zelensky arrived in Washington on Wednesday, the Biden government announced a new $1.85 billion military aid package for Ukraine that, for the first time, includes the Patriot system that Ukrainians had been asking for for months.

However, the United States will only send one Patriot anti-aircraft battery to Ukraine.

One of these batteries usually includes a radar that detects and tracks the target, computers, generators and a control station, as well as eight mini-launchers with four missiles ready to fire.

It remains to be seen what impact a single Patriot battery can have in the face of continued Russian airstrikes, which have caused significant damage in recent months to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, engulfed in a cold winter.

US soldiers stand near a Patriot missile system at a Turkish military base in Gaziantep, on February 4, 2013. (Photo by Bulent KILIC / AFP)

During the press conference, Biden and Zelensky also exchanged praise and thanks.

Specifically, Zelensky said that he respects Biden as a person, as a president and as a human being. “For me, this is a historic moment.”, asserted the Ukrainian leader, dressed in a sweatshirt and military green pants.

For his part, Biden spoke of the importance of holding in-person meetings, both with allies and enemies, to “look into their eyes” and see what they think.

MORE INFORMATION: Russia pronounces itself on the Patriot missiles delivered by the US to Ukraine: “It only aggravates the war”

In this regard, about Zelensky, the American said: “It’s clear in his soul that he is who he says he is”.

Lastly, Biden acknowledged that Zelensky’s visit to Washington, the first he has made abroad since the start of the war, has a symbolic value and seeks to show “unity” against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In addition, he reaffirmed that the United States, NATO and the European Union (EU) are united in their support for Ukraine against Russia because what is at stake is their own “idea of ​​sovereignty”.

Source: Elcomercio