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The U.S. is finalizing plans to send the Patriot missile defense system to Ukraine to aid in its defense against repeated Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power grid. Russia, in turn, warned of “unpredictable consequences” and even shared a video of an intercontinental ballistic missile being loaded up. Sending Ukraine Patriot missiles is viewed by Moscow as an escalation given the system is often used to guard against more advanced threats. Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan explains what this development means for the trajectory of the war.
Excerpted from Peter’s Dec. 16 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
At the onset of the Ukraine War, the Americans laid out three criteria for providing weapons to the Ukrainians: It must be a weapon system not critical to U.S. defense operations, the technology must be outdated and it must be something that the Ukrainians can operate on their own. But things are changing…
In the West’s eyes, the Russians have escalated this war through their genocidal actions. Resulting in discussions over the use of the Patriot missile defense system. Now, this brings plenty of implications to the table.
Perhaps the most notable is that the Patriot missile requires “advisors” to aid in its operation – meaning boots on the ground. Nothing is set in stone, but this could significantly impact the trajectory of the war.
