Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the country’s intention to acquire 27 Patriot missile systems from American manufacturers. He made the statement in a recent interview.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Need to Strengthen Air Defense
Zelensky noted that Ukraine is actively negotiating with international partners to protect its airspace from attacks by the Russian Federation using missiles and drones. At the same time, he stated that European allies may temporarily transfer their own Patriot systems to Ukraine to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure.
Despite numerous requests from Kyiv, partners are currently not considering the possibility of sending fighter jets to patrol the skies over the central and western regions of the country. This remains one of the key security issues in the near term.
International Support and Key Challenges
The President emphasized that military assistance from Western partners is extremely necessary, especially in light of the increasing intensity of missile and drone attacks from Russia. In recent months, Russian forces have significantly ramped up their strikes on Ukrainian cities, putting additional pressure on the air defense system.
“There is never enough. Enough is when the war ends. And enough is when Putin understands that he must stop.”
Zelensky also commented on the position of Western leaders regarding military presence in Ukraine. In his opinion, the issue of deploying European troops on Ukrainian territory during active hostilities requires a cautious approach, as “leaders are afraid of their societies” and do not wish to involve their countries in military conflict.
At the same time, the governments of France and the United Kingdom have promised to support Ukraine with military units after a peace settlement is reached. Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv has repeatedly sought military assistance, as well as support regarding Ukraine’s membership in the EU and NATO.
It is worth noting that the President previously emphasized the critical need to purchase at least 10 Patriot systems for effective protection of Ukrainian airspace. Senior Ukrainian military officials also stress that the most urgent need remains the modernization of the air defense system and ensuring it has a sufficient supply of ammunition.
In July, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to provide Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons, which NATO will purchase, including Patriot systems.