Russia will take the latest from Trump in stride. From Dmitry Kornev at swentr.site:
American missile deliveries are heading to Ukraine – but will they shift the battlefield?
FILE PHOTO. Patriot missile system. © Getty Images/Timm Ziegenthaler
On Monday, July 14, US President Donald Trump announced that he had decided to supply Patriot missile systems to Kiev, with the first deliveries expected in the coming days.
The key element of this move lies not just in the type of weapons, but in the logistics behind them. While the deliveries will be formally carried out by Washington, the funding will come from NATO allies. The first batteries will be transferred from Germany, which will later be compensated by new shipments from the United States. In essence, a new mechanism is taking shape: American weapons, paid for with European money.
But what does this actually mean in practical terms? Is this a major escalation, a political gesture, or simply a reshuffling of existing commitments? And more importantly, how will this affect the battlefield itself?
Patriots: What do the numbers really mean?
According to Trump, Ukraine will receive 17 Patriot systems – a statement that immediately raises questions. Most importantly, it’s unclear exactly what the administration considers a “system.” If he meant 17 launchers, that would translate into just three or four full batteries, since each battery includes a radar, command post, and between four and eight launchers. This would not represent a dramatic escalation, but rather allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to replenish and rotate previously supplied batteries.
What if they get zapped as soon as they turn on?
WAR is not some half way game.
Either go all out or go home.
The wizards of smart didn’t think about WAR after the Long March?