Zelenskyy addresses West from his hometown: Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot systems
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine urgently needs an additional ten units of Patriot surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs). This will help protect more effectively against ballistic threats, states President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his video address to participants of the Ramstein meeting.
Month of 'ceasefire'
As Zelenskyy reminded, today, April 11, marks exactly one month since Russia rejected Washington's proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Moscow's corresponding action made it abundantly clear that the terrorist state Russia is the sole cause of the full-scale war.
He added that without force directed against Russia, the Kremlin will have no will to implement any realistic and effective peace proposals.
Ukraine needs Patriot
"Today, I am speaking to you from Kryvyi Rih. This city lives under almost constant air alerts, because of drones or Russian missiles. The most dangerous threat is ballistic missiles. When there's a ballistic threat, people have just a few minutes to reach shelter," stated the president.
Zelenskyy reminded that just recently, Russia attacked Kryvyi Rih with a ballistic missile that killed 19 people. Among the dead were nine children.
The president noted that only Patriot systems can effectively protect against ballistic threats and added that Ukraine is forced to move its available systems for temporary protection of various cities. At the same time, the failure of even one system means lost lives.
"In Russia, they see this advantage — their ability to be a terrorist state. And we must take away that ability — their belief that killing can be treated lightly. I ask you to focus first of all on air defense for Ukraine. We truly need it. Ten Patriot systems — the free world has them," emphasized Zelenskyy.
Bombing of Kryvyi Rih
On April 4, the Russian army launched a ballistic missile attack against Kryvyi Rih, resulting in the deaths of 20 people, including nine children. Zelenskyy condemned the attack on the same day, emphasizing the need for increased international pressure on the aggressor country.
On April 5, a day of mourning was declared across Ukraine in response to the tragedy in Kryvyi Rih.
For more details on the enemy shelling, read the separate material by RBC-Ukraine.
