President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the Allies to bolster Ukraine with ten additional Patriot air defence systems. Zelenskyy made the remarks addressing the participants of a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, in Brussels.

Source: European Pravda; Ukrainian President's Office

Zelenskyy noted that he was addressing the meeting from Kryvyi Rih. The city, he claimed, is subject to nearly continuous airstrikes, either by Russian missiles or drones.

"The most dangerous threat is ballistic missiles. When there’s a ballistic threat, people have just a few minutes to reach shelter. Just imagine what that’s like – sending your child outside, or just walking through the city, knowing that a missile can hit within 5 minutes of launch. It's [a] constant danger," he said, adding that exactly one week ago, Russia killed 19 people in Kryvyi Rih, nine of whom were children.

He noted that a number of cities in Ukraine need additional protection from Russian missiles.

"You know that Ukraine has a shortage of air defence systems. You know that Patriot systems can effectively protect against ballistic threats. You also know that we are forced to move the systems we have around the country to give at least temporary protection to different cities. And you know what happens when even one system goes out of service – it means lost lives," Zelenskyy said.

For this reason, he asked the Ramstein meeting attendees to focus primarily on air defence systems for Ukraine.

"We truly need it. Ten Patriot systems – the free world has them. What is needed now are political decisions to make them work for peace. We need that result," the president said.

Background: 

• In March, US President Donald Trump promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to collaborate on securing Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov stated that efforts are currently underway with other countries to acquire an additional Patriot air defence system.

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