Donald Trump refused to give Volodymyr Zelensk respective 100 additional missiles intercepting the Patriot, reports “Financial Times”. Washington is expected to request limited supplies to defend its own facilities and allies in the mediate East. For Poland, this is simply a hard warning: even the most crucial ally divides weapons according to his own priorities.
Refusal on urgent delivery
Donald Trump rejected Volodymyr Zelenski's request to hand over respective 100 additional capture missiles to the Patriot systems to Ukraine. The information was provided by “Financial Times”, and in Poland was described by the Kresy.pl portal. According to these reports, the president of the United States pointed to limited supplies, presently needed to defend American facilities and allies in the mediate East.
Kiev is seeking more missiles due to the fact that the Patriot strategy is 1 of the most crucial tools to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. Russia constantly hits Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. Therefore, any deficiency of air defence magazines translates into a smaller number of possible interceptions.
The mediate East uses US reserves
The problem is not 1 Trump decision. American operations in the mediate East depleted stocks of precision ammunition, and the Pentagon and the arms manufacture are trying to increase production pace. "Military Times" reported in June that the administration talked to producers about rebuilding reserves. The plans included a triple production of Patriot capture missiles.
However, specified expansion does not have immediate effect. fresh lines, component suppliers and trained personnel require time. Meanwhile, request is increasing in parallel in Europe, the mediate East and the United States alone. In this situation, Washington chooses to defend its own forces and formal allies. It's a power realism in its purest form.
License will not replace rockets this winter
At the same time there are talks about the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine. At the end of July, Zelenski spoke about Trump's political consent to the licence, but besides pointed to the request to agree on method issues. Even the successful conclusion of these talks does not mean the fast launch of serial production. The urgent request for defence exists today.
Therefore, the refusal to supply and the possible of licensing production are not contradictory. The first concerns the disposal of existing stocks. The second can only make fresh abilities in the longer term. For the assaulted state, the difference between these terms has a literal dimension: it is about the anticipation of protecting cities from further Russian attacks.
Poland must number its own missiles
Warsaw should draw a conclusion from this situation without illusion. The alliance with the United States remains a pillar of Polish security, but no ally will quit his own needs at our request. erstwhile respective regions request the same ammunition at the same time, precedence shall be given to the warehouse owner.
Poland buys Patriot systems, but launchers alone are not enough. We request adequate supplies of missiles, certain supply chains, service capacity and the participation of Polish manufacture in production. The lives of Poles and freedom of decision of the state during the crisis are at stake. It's not a strategy to number on individual to open their warehouse for us at a decisive moment. It is simply a hazard that Poland cannot afford.
Sources: [Kresy.pl](https://kresy.pl/events/trump-renewal-zelenskimu-setek-rakiet-patriot-usa-indicating-in-exhaustive-sie-stocks/), [Polish Press Agency](https://www.pap.pl/updates/Zelenski-we have-with-President-Trump-production-push-to-replenish-stockpiles/).
