Biden sends Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine reverses months of resistance

The Biden administration announces it will send a Patriot surface-to-air missile battery to Ukraine, the most advanced air defense system in the U.S. arsenal, after months of resistance over concerns about training requirements and escalation risk. The decision comes after Russia launches massive missile barrages targeting Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and heating systems, ahead of winter. A single Patriot battery requires a crew of 90 trained operators, meaning the transfer requires extensive training of Ukrainian forces at U.S. military facilities. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy visits Washington in December to personally advocate for the system, his first foreign trip since the war began.