Ukraine to receive US Patriot missiles within days, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
The United States will provide Ukraine with a new package of anti-ballistic missiles for the Patriot air defense system in the coming days, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said while answering journalists' questions.
The President was asked whether Ukraine had secured new deliveries of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot system, which are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, during the NATO summit.
"I think this was a productive summit for Ukraine. In the coming days, we will receive a package from the United States. I also reached separate agreements with our European partners," Zelenskyy said.
He clarified that there is no specific timeline yet for deliveries from European countries, but Ukraine will definitely receive additional PAC-3 missiles.
Patriot missile shortage
The shortage of Patriot missiles capable of intercepting ballistic targets is one of the key challenges for Ukraine.
Recently, Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's Defense Minister, said the country has no missiles at all to intercept ballistic threats.
Russia has been actively exploiting that shortage. During its latest large-scale attack on Kyiv and the region, Russian forces launched 23 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles. Ukraine's air defenses did not intercept any of the ballistic missiles in that attack.
Yesterday, July 8, US President Donald Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot systems.
