Zelenskyy: Ukraine to receive Patriot systems annually; 25-unit contract in preparation

Ukraine will receive Patriot air defence systems on an annual basis, with a contract for 25 units currently in preparation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced.

Speaking to journalists on October 19, Zelenskyy said that necessary contacts with the United States regarding the supply of the systems had already been established, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

"We are preparing a contract for 25 Patriot systems. I believe this is a very positive development. It is not simple, but it is long-term," he said.

The President noted that significant groundwork had been carried out in recent weeks, with key meetings arranged by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, and National Security and Defence Council Secretary Rustem Umerov.

Zelenskyy explained that receiving all 25 systems at once would be difficult due to a queue of countries that have already placed orders with the manufacturer. Ukraine is seeking to swap positions with some other buyers to accelerate deliveries.

"These 25 systems will be delivered annually, in varying numbers each year. The White House can adjust the order if there is political will. We understand which European countries could give us priority in the queue," he said.

Moreover, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has moved closer to a potential resolution of its war with Russia, working alongside its international partners.

He stressed that the situation in Ukraine is unprecedented globally, with the scale of the conflict far exceeding other ongoing wars.

“I do not wish to diminish or prioritise one country over another, but we cannot compare what is happening in the Middle East with what is happening here. The scale of the war is completely different. It is a different story,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that recent developments have created conditions for genuine progress towards peace.

“We have moved closer to a possible end to the war. I am certain of this. It does not mean it will definitely end, but President Trump achieved much in the Middle East, and he now seeks to end Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian leader said.

He also highlighted a growing international political push for an end to the conflict.

“There is a mood around the world: let us concentrate all efforts now and finish Russia’s war against Ukraine,” Zelenskyy added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev