Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Ukraine's acquisition of

anti-aircraft systems is a step towards prolonging the war, while trying to downplay their defensive significance.

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Putin falsely accused the United States of prolonging the war in Ukraine by handing over Patriot air defense systems, and hinted that these systems would not serve defensive purposes," the report said.

At the same time, Putin already spoke about his readiness to prolong the war long before the US decision to transfer the Patriot to Ukraine, even declaring on December 7 that the "special military operation" would be a long process.

At the same time, the Kremlin has also for a long time misrepresented any Western security assistance to Ukraine as escalation.

"Instead, the Patriot system will strengthen Ukraine's ability to protect critical civilian infrastructure from Russia's air and missile campaign aimed at inflicting suffering on the Ukrainian civilian population. The Patriot systems will prevent Putin from forcing Ukraine to surrender on his terms, which is perhaps what Putin means when says that this is prolonging the war," analysts say.

Also, Putin is intensifying attempts to remove responsibility for waging a protracted war in Ukraine, ISW notes.

"Putin has made several statements that Russia is committed to ending the war as soon as possible, while noting that Russia will not increase the pace of the 'special military operation' because it would lead to 'unjustified casualties.'" Both statements are part of a consolidated effort by the Kremlin to justify Putin's expensive military efforts in front of a Russian domestic audience that is making ever greater sacrifices to achieve the Kremlin's unrealistic goals," the publication noted.

We will remind, on December 21, the visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the USA took place.

He met with US President Joe Biden, addressed Congress and held a number of bilateral meetings.

It was Zelensky's second visit to the White House and his first trip abroad since the start of the full-scale invasion.

"For three hundred days of this war, we started a really new stage in our relations - between Ukraine and the USA - we reached the level of real alliance, which is one hundred percent filled with real meaning," Zelenskyy said.

US President

 The United States has already confirmed the delivery of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine as part of military aid.

We will remind:

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,

.

According to the diplomat, the Patriot air defense system will help save Ukrainian lives and infrastructure.

At most, this is a strategic defeat for the Russian Federation, which will lose the leverage of intimidation and terror.

anti-aircraft missile systems

provided by the United States of America.

American Patriot systems can change the course of the war in Ukraine.

 The spokesman of the Air Force of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, claims that thanks to the long range of the Patriot air defense system, they can help push TU-22M3 bombers and tactical aviation of the Russian Federation as far as possible from Ukrainian borders.

Read also:

• SAM Patriot: main characteristics, history of creation and cost

• Putin has come to terms with losses at the front and is determined to fight on - ISW

• How the Patriot air defense systems will affect the course of the war in Ukraine: a military expert predicted Russia's reaction and actions