Zelenskyy confirms Ukraine’s push to acquire full fleet of Patriot systems

Ukraine currently has confirmed agreements for three Patriot air defence systems out of the ten it has requested to meet its defence needs. However, the country’s military requirements extend beyond just air defence, including missiles, drones, electronic warfare capabilities, and stable funding for sustained operations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed this matter during a recent media briefing, emphasising ongoing efforts to secure all ten Patriot systems, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian press.

“We are working on the issue of missiles; we have missiles. We are still struggling with the production license. It is important that a production site is emerging in Germany, not yet in Ukraine, but in Europe with partners with whom we maintain strong relations,” Zelenskyy noted.

He also revealed that US President Donald Trump has agreed to transfer the Patriot systems to Ukraine through a sale, meaning Kyiv must now secure the necessary funding for all ten systems. Zelenskyy added that ideally, each system should come with a missile package ready for immediate use.

Regarding progress, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine currently has official commitments for three Patriot systems: two from Germany and one from Norway. Talks are also ongoing with the Netherlands to secure additional units.

On July 23, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands have expressed willingness to finance the delivery of Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. Earlier, Pistorius had said Germany was prepared to provide two Patriot systems, contingent on replenishing its stockpiles within six to eight months.

Pistorius explained that while these countries are ready to support Ukraine, a final decision on which nation will supply the systems remains pending. He described the coalition’s goal of identifying up to five Patriot systems for Ukraine as “ambitious” and stressed the importance of maintaining NATO’s defence readiness by ensuring no donor country becomes vulnerable.

The next step involves high-ranking military officials from the involved nations coordinating the logistics and specifics of how to execute the transfer of Patriot systems to Ukraine.

In summary, Ukraine’s current confirmed receipt of three Patriot systems is part of a broader effort to secure up to ten, supported by multiple European countries, but dependent on funding, production capabilities, and NATO’s operational balance.

By Tamilla Hasanova