Zelensky says Ukraine ready to buy Patriot missiles
Key Takeaways
- Zelensky urged Ukraine's partners to approve more Patriot missile supplies.
- He said Kyiv was ready to buy the weapons rather than receive them as gifts.
- Ukraine acknowledged failing to intercept ballistic missiles during the latest strikes.
The Ukrainian president pressed partners, particularly the US, to approve more Patriot interceptors after admitting ballistic missiles remain difficult to stop.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday urged Ukraine's partners to approve further supplies of Patriot missiles, saying Kyiv was ready to pay for the weapons rather than receive them as aid.
His appeal followed overnight strikes on Ukraine, with Zelensky pointing to ballistic missiles as the country's biggest air defence challenge.
"Unfortunately, ballistic missiles are the most difficult challenge right now. While about 90 percent of the cruise missiles in this attack were intercepted, the situation with ballistic missiles is significantly worse," Zelensky said.
"We need missiles for Patriots, and only our partners can provide them," he stressed. "We ain't talking about gifts. Ukraine is ready to buy the weapons. What matters is that decisions be made - appropriate political decisions by our partners, first and foremost in the US."
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Zelensky did not say where the money for the purchases would come from. The European Union and its member states have collectively provided more than €220 billion over the past four years.
His government has also faced several high-profile corruption scandals. Zelensky fired a top aide this week over alleged money laundering, while his sacked defence chief Mykhailo Fedorov criticised corruption in the system and demanded fresh elections.
The request for more Patriot missiles came as Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that no ballistic missiles were intercepted during the latest overnight strikes.
Moscow said the strikes targeted military-industrial and logistics sites. Kyiv has also previously acknowledged failing to shoot down missiles during several attacks.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
