- President Zelenskyy said Ukraine is negotiating a multi-year deal to receive up to 25 Patriot air defense systems.
- Deliveries would occur annually, with funding expected from frozen Russian assets and bilateral security agreements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his government is negotiating a long-term contract to acquire up to 25 U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, with deliveries expected to take place over several years.
The announcement came during his visit to Washington, where he met with U.S. officials to discuss Ukraine’s air defense needs, according to Suspilne.
Zelenskyy said the request for 25 Patriot systems was submitted by Ukraine’s Air Force Command. He noted, however, that the country would not receive the full number immediately due to global production constraints.
“These 25 systems we will receive every year, a different number in different years,” he told reporters. “The White House can change the queue if there is political will. We understand which European countries can give us priority in the queue. There is more positivity in this matter — we are working now to obtain the necessary decisions.”
The president acknowledged that one of the main obstacles is the existing production schedule at the manufacturer, where multiple countries are awaiting delivery of Patriot systems. Zelenskyy emphasized that only a political decision in Washington could accelerate Ukraine’s place in that line.
He added that several NATO countries in Europe already host Patriot systems belonging to the United States, and those could be made available to Ukraine if the White House agrees.
“We understand that in key NATO member states in Europe there are Patriot systems that belong to the U.S. They could also come to us if there is goodwill and support from the White House,” Zelenskyy said.
The proposed financing for the 25 Patriot systems would come primarily from the use of frozen Russian assets, with the financial framework for the deal already in development.
“The financial basis of this agreement has already been worked out,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Ukraine continues to look for other funding sources to supplement that effort.
“Of course, we also need to work on other financial sources. We have 28 bilateral security agreements with different countries. Finding finances and making prepayments is our task, and within these agreements, it is realistic,” he added.
Zelenskyy also referred to the recent deployment of a Patriot battery already in service with Ukrainian forces, stating that two more systems are expected to arrive this fall. “The Patriot system is already on combat duty in Ukraine,” he said. “We will receive two additional systems from our allies this autumn.”
The Patriot air defense system, produced by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced Western surface-to-air missile platforms. It plays a central role in Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian missile attacks, particularly against key energy and infrastructure sites.