At the request of NATO, the Netherlands and Germany will supply Slovakia with American SAM (surface-to-air missile) Patriot systems instead of its S-300 air defense systems, which Slovakia will give to Ukraine.
Interfax-Ukraine reported this news with reference to the Dutch Ministry of Defense.
"Germany and the Netherlands will place SAM Patriot systems near the Sliac air base in central Slovakia. Today, the final decision on systems installation was made. They are designed to strengthen the alliance and protect the territory of Slovakia and its people from any missile threat. Slovakia shares a border with Ukraine. SAM Patriot systems will start functioning from the middle of April, "says the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands statement.
On Thursday, the minister of Defense of Slovakia, Jaroslav Nad, told during a joint news conference with US colleague Lloyd Austin that Slovakia would hand over its only Soviet-made S-300 air defense system to Ukraine if it gets a replacement.
On 18 March 2022, the White House responded to Lavrov's threats to destroy NATO humanitarian aid convoys on the territory of Ukraine. A White House spokeswoman said that "there are no American troops on the territory of Ukraine," and all US forces operate exclusively on NATO territory.
Earlier on 18 March 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of RF said that any cargo from Western countries entering the territory of Ukraine will be considered military aid convoys and that they are going to destroy them.
On 16 March 2022, President Biden announced that the United States was providing Ukraine with more military assistance, including air defense systems, ammunition, and anti-tank systems, and helping to acquire longer-range SAMs.