Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced his readiness to buy ten Patriot air defence systems from the United States for US$15 billion and the readiness of European partners to help finance the deal.

Source : Zelenskyy in an interview with CBS, quoted by European Pravda

Details : Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has not received the additional Patriot systems that were promised at the NATO summit in Washington.

"I respect the choice of the United States, but when the United States did not give us such systems or did not sell them, we are ready for any format, the question is not about money," he said.

He said that some European partners are ready to help financially with the purchase of these systems.

"But the US says there is no possibility today. But at the same time, they are selling such systems, for example, to Israel. I'm not saying that Israel doesn't need them, but if we are partners, can't they find a way to protect Ukraine?" the president said.

Zelenskyy noted that he outlined various options in a conversation with US President Donald Trump.

"There is a Patriot system, and you have a lot of them, and you have production. There are several steps to protect Ukraine. Step number one: one system that costs one and a half billion dollars; we are ready to buy at least ten systems to cover some cities, only civilians, and city centres where people are crowded. This is US$15 billion. We are ready to pay this US$15 billion. We will find this money, and we will pay everything," the president said.

The second option, as he said, is licences to manufacture the systems and the corresponding missiles, and he has asked the current and previous US administrations for this.

He also mentioned the countries in the Middle East, Europe and Asia where US Patriot systems are deployed and where there are no military operations that could be transferred to Ukraine.

"We were even ready to lease them. There are many formats to ensure this. We need a desire," Zelenskyy added.

Background :

• Zelenskyy, addressing a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein Group, in Brussels, called for Ukraine to be reinforced with ten additional Patriot systems.
• In March, US President Donald Trump promised the Ukrainian leader to cooperate with him in finding Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine.
• Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov said that work is currently underway with other countries to obtain another Patriot air defence system.

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