Slovakia, one of three NATO allies with the S-300 missile defense system, wants assurances that the systems will be replaced immediately, the two sources said.
According to two other sources familiar with the talks, any country supplying the S-300 is likely to receive a US-made Patriot air defense system to make up for the capability it is giving up. Germany and the Netherlands have already publicly announced that they are sending “Patriots” to Slovakia. But integrating the new integrated air defense system into the country’s existing military architecture, as well as training its forces to use it, could take time, warned one person familiar with the matter.
Texas Rep. Michael McCall, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, hinted publicly on Wednesday that the U.S. has made progress on giving Ukraine access to additional S-300s, an anti-aircraft weapons system that, according to congressional sources, Ukraine already using it effectively. against the Russian attack.
“I pushed hard for it,” McCall told CNN’s Jim Sciutto. “I’m proud that they now have the S-300.”
McCall’s aide later said he was referring to the S-300 systems, which have been owned and operated by Ukraine for many years. These systems already exist in the country.
A senior Defense Department official declined to comment on specific weapons systems or countries that might provide them, but noted that Austin was traveling to Slovakia to meet with the defense secretary. The official said security assistance would certainly be a topic of discussion.
CNN previously reported that the State Department is working to determine which countries currently have S-300s and determine how they could be transferred to Ukraine.
The Embassy of Slovakia in Washington declined to comment. CNN has reached out to the National Security Council and the Department of Defense for comment.
CNN reported earlier Wednesday that other Soviet-era air defense systems, including the SA8, have already been sent to Ukraine.
“People are talking about a no-fly zone, they can create their own if we give them military equipment and weapons,” McCall said.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is due to visit Slovakia later this week after attending the NATO Defense Minister in Brussels.
“At the request of President Zelensky, we have identified and are helping Ukraine acquire additional longer-range anti-aircraft systems and munitions for those systems,” President Joe Biden said Wednesday as part of comments detailing the new security assistance.
Several sources told CNN that some US allies are also suspicious of making their contribution to Ukraine public. Bulgaria and Greece also have more modern S-300 systems under consideration. Greece’s system is a different model to that currently used in Ukraine, raising questions about whether additional training would be required to be useful.
Jim Sciutto of CNN contributed to this report.