US defence secretary announces aid as Zelenskiy pleads with west for more Patriot systems to defend Ukrainian cities

The US will provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles for its air defence systems as part of a massive $6bn additional aid package, the defence secretary has announced.

“This is the largest security assistance package that we’ve committed to date,” Lloyd Austin said after the conclusion of a virtual meeting of dozens of Kyiv’s international supporters.

The missiles will be used to replenish previously supplied Patriot systems. The package also includes more munitions for the national advanced surface-to-air missile systems, or Nasams, and additional gear to integrate western air defence launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing weaponry, much of which still dates back to the Soviet era.

The package is the second this week, following another valued at $1bn that was announced just after the US president, Joe Biden, signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as it struggles to hold back Russian advances.