US may ship Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine "on expedited timeline" - Pentagon

The US may ship Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine faster than it was initially expected, Pentagon Spokesman Patrick Ryder told reporters n March 21.

He refrained from disclosing the actual shipment schedule, but noted that the Pentagon is "confident that we’ll be able to get the Patriots [to Ukraine] on a expedited timeline", TASS reports.

He also refrained from commenting if the air defence systems will be shipped to Kyiv before the planned counteroffensive attempt.

At the same time, Ryder confirmed that the Ukrainian personnel underwent training in use of Patriot systems on US territory "faster than expected". 

According to the spokesman, Washington will publicly announce that the Patriots have entered service in Ukrainian forces when it happens.

Earlier, CNN reported citing its sources that a group of 65 Ukrainian servicemen that were training in operation of the Patriots has completed the course ahead of the set timeline.