Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine and the United States are preparing to formalize a contract for the supply of 25 Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv. This development comes as part of ongoing discussions between Ukraine and US defense companies, with coordination from relevant US agencies.
According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy shared these insights with journalists, emphasizing that the contract represents a significant, albeit challenging, long-term development for Ukraine's defense capabilities. The request for the Patriot systems was specifically made by Ukraine's air force, highlighting the strategic importance of air defense in the ongoing conflict.
Zelenskyy noted that there is a production queue for the Patriots involving countries with existing contracts, which will result in Kyiv receiving the systems in varying quantities annually. He mentioned the possibility of the White House adjusting this queue should there be political will, and identified potential European allies who might support Ukraine's prioritization in the queue. The Ukrainian president also suggested that US-owned Patriot systems stationed in Europe could be allocated to Ukraine if there is collaborative goodwill.
In terms of funding the acquisition, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine anticipates financing the deal primarily through frozen Russian assets and bilateral security agreements with international partners. He also addressed the potential delivery of long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine by the US, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent call to US President Donald Trump may have been influenced by discussions on this matter.
During a recent meeting with Trump at the White House, Zelenskyy discussed critical issues such as Ukraine's battlefield situation and air defense needs, though no agreement was reached on supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine. Concurrently, Trump and Putin agreed to meet in Hungary following a phone conversation, which could potentially influence future negotiations regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Addressing the ongoing tension in the Donbas region, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine's stance against withdrawing from the eastern areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. He refuted any suggestions of ceding territory for a ceasefire, a notion denied by Trump as well.
Zelenskyy also expressed skepticism about Budapest being the ideal venue for the upcoming Trump-Putin summit, though he acknowledged that any meeting facilitating peace is welcome. He mentioned alternative venues discussed during talks with Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Paris, emphasizing Ukraine's openness to any diplomatic format that could lead to resolving the conflict that has persisted for over three-and-a-half years.