Ukraine intends to order 27 Patriot systems from U.S., Zelensky says
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said this in an interview with The Guardian, published on Sunday, Ukrinform reports.
Zelensky also noted that European states could provide Kyiv with their existing Patriot systems.
Ukraine’s President gave the interview after devastating Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power grid, which caused power outages in most regions of the country. During the conversation in the Mariinskyi Palace, the lights went out twice.
“These are our living conditions,” Zelensky said. “It’s normal. We have fluctuations with electricity in Kyiv, like everywhere else.” He said Putin was ordering “terrorist attacks” on Ukraine’s energy system, killing civilians and leaving them without power and water. “He can’t create tension within our society in any other way.”
The President said he was working closely with international partners to strengthen protection against Russian drones. At the same time, the United Kingdom and other allies, according to him, still refuse to send fighter jets to patrol the skies over central and western Ukraine.
When asked whether the EU and the UK are doing enough ahead of the cold winter, Zelensky replied: “It’s never enough. It’s enough when the war ends. And enough when Putin understands that he has to stop.”
The President noted that he has warm relations with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and “constant contacts” with London.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of U.S. military involvement, the governments of France and the United Kingdom have pledged to send troops as part of a potential peace settlement. When asked whether he would like British soldiers to arrive earlier, for example to take up defensive positions on Ukraine’s border with Belarus, Zelensky replied: “Of course. We’ve been asking for many things including weapons and membership of the EU and NATO.”
At the same time, he pointed out that the issue of European armed forces being present in Ukraine during active hostilities should be handled with caution. “Leaders are afraid of their societies. They don’t want to be involved in the war,” Zelensky said. In his view, the decision to deploy troops is “their choice.” If Kyiv pushes too hard, there is a risk of losing “financial and military support from our partners”.
As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukraine is working with partners, including the United States, to purchase additional Patriot systems.
Photo: Bundeswehr
