Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

DoD could start training Ukrainians on Patriot on US soil: Politico

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Dec 2022 21:02
  • 1 Shares
6 Min Read

The United States might soon start training Ukrainian soldiers on US soil as the Pentagon wants to develop their knowledge on the Patriot system.

  • x
  •  Patriot missile battery (Raytheon Missiles and Defense)
    Patriot missile battery (Raytheon Missiles and Defense)

Ukrainian troops might soon start training in the United States as the Pentagon mulls training Ukrainians on the Patriot defense system at a military base on US soil, two officials familiar with the matter told Politico.

Washington has so far been training Ukrainians in European countries, providing Kiev's forces with expertise on various NATO weapons systems, including the hallmark HIMARS that the US has been providing to Kiev since the start of the Ukraine war. The training has been conducted in several Eastern European countries, as well as Germany and the United Kingdom.

The issue has not been confirmed yet, with no official decision taken by Washington yet. However, reports on Ukrainians training in the United States came after President Biden confirmed that Washington would be providing Ukraine with Patriot missile systems to Kiev.

The Patriot is a US-made sophisticated air defense missile system that shoots down any aircraft or missiles. This comes as Russia is showing an uptick in aerial attacks on Ukraine, especially using UAVs.

The system itself includes several support vehicles with control stations, radars, and generators, and it likely will not be deployed for months, as Washington cannot transfer it to Ukraine with Ukrainians not having sufficient knowledge on how to use it.

The Patriots have been on Ukraine's wishlist for months now, and Biden on Thursday moved forward, pledging to provide Kiev with the defense systems.

Biden said the US would continue sending aid to Kiev while increasing military support for the country, including in terms of air defense systems.

"We are going to continue to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself, particularly air defense. That's why we're gonna be providing Ukraine with a Patriot missile battery and training Ukrainian forces to use it," Biden said.

Biden's words came in light of a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington, DC. The United States involved itself excessively in security arrangements to bring Zelensky to the US, according to the White House.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier in the day that the United States will provide an additional $1.85 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, with the assistance consisting of a Patriot air defense system.

"$1.85 Billion in Additional US Military Assistance, including the First Transfer of Patriot Air Defense System," Blinken said in a press release.

Read next: US unable to track aid sent to Ukrainian soldiers: Politico

The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that one Patriot air defense system, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), and High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARMs), among other military hardware, are included in the recently announced $1.85 billion US security assistance package for Ukraine.

Related News

Senate blames Secret Service failures for Trump assassination attempt

South Korea warns US chip tariffs threaten economy, global supply

According to the press release, the package also includes small guns, explosives, armored vehicles, mortar systems, and 500 precisely guided 155mm artillery rounds.

Currently, the Pentagon is discussing whether it should conduct the training - or at least part of it - in the United States or a third country as Washington has been doing so far, so likely a European country, but the training would be conducted on a US base.

One official argued in favor of the training of Ukrainians being conducted at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, a base already equipped with complex simulators and has a wide array of instructors, adding that training in Europe would be feasible but would exert a logistical strain on the United States.

Zelensky arrived at the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with Biden in light of the ongoing war in his country. He was greeted by Biden and First Lady Jill. He addressed the US Congress in a joint session as lawmakers mulled ratifying legislation that will include billions of dollars to be sent to Ukraine as "aid."

During the address, Zelensky urged US lawmakers to provide his forces with more weapons as well as impose additional anti-Russian sanctions.

"We have artillery, yes – thank you," Zelensky acknowledged in his address, and then questioned whether that is enough and went on to answer himself "Honestly, not really."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi agreed with the Ukrainian President and tweeted that "the fight for Ukraine is the fight for democracy itself."

GOP Representatives Matt Gaetz, Lauren Boebert, Dianne Harshbarger, and Jim Jordan remained seated at times when the rest of the US Congress gave Zelensky a standing ovation. These GOP reps were criticized by others however, their positions were not new, as there has long been a sentiment of hatred for Zelensky in the US red camp.

Jen Psaki, former White House Press Secretary, called Zelensky's trip a "sales pitch" via her Twitter profile, noting decreasing support for Ukraine in the US.

While Donald Trump Jr. argued that the Ukrainian President is an "ungrateful international welfare queen."

Republicans vow audit to track Biden's $20 bln Ukraine aid

It is worth noting that earlier in November, the Biden administration is currently scurrying to track down the approximately $20 billion in military aid it sent to Ukraine, amid a warning by Republicans of impending audits after they take over the House in January.

Incoming House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has previously stated that Ukraine will not receive a "blank check". The purpose of the audit is meant to track how the funds are being delivered and exactly where - as prior suspicions point to many shipped arms ending up on the black market.

Controversial Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who announced the audit decision, promised to "hold our government accountable", as other colleagues such as Rep. Jason Crow echoed to the Washington Post: "The taxpayers deserve to know that investment is going where it's intended to go," adding: "In any war, there can be missteps and misallocation of supplies."

The lawmakers called out current monitoring efforts as inadequate since the Biden administration inspected just 10% of the 22,000 weapons transported to Ukraine between February and November 1, according to the Post. 

However, US allies in Europe believe such an audit won't fully cut off funding, such as UK Parliament member Tobias Ellwood who said in October: "You’d be playing into Putin’s hands... If America pulls back, Putin could snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."

  • United States
  • Pentagon
  • Russia
  • Volodymyr Zelensky
  • Ukraine
  • Joe Biden
  • Vladimir Putin
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS