Zelenskyy explains what 'security guarantees' could close Ukraine's sky
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The main security guarantees for Ukraine in the short term are air defense systems. The supply of such systems will help save the lives of Ukrainians, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated this during a meeting with Iratxe García Pérez, the head of the Socialist and Democrat group in the European Parliament.
He reminded that today Russian forces once again struck Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, targeting the peaceful residents of Zaporizhzhia. The enemy also hit a vehicle belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"The main security guarantees for us today, if we talk not about strategy but about tactics, about what will save the lives of Ukrainians, are undoubtedly air defense systems," added the president.
According to Zelenskyy, all partners understand that 10-12 additional Patriot systems for Ukraine will ensure the preservation of lives and make the war meaningless for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Then, no KABs (guided aerial bombs) or missiles will be able to hit civilian infrastructure.
The president noted that one Patriot system costs $1.5 billion, and he does not understand why $30 billion from Russia’s frozen assets cannot be used to finally close Ukraine's skies.
"People will also return to normal life from abroad. Children will go to schools and universities everywhere, the economy will work, and then the only thing on the battlefield will be the desire to press in Russia, but there will undoubtedly be no advantage for the aggressors," Zelenskyy emphasized.
At the same time, he pointed out that the best strategic security guarantees for Ukraine are NATO membership.
"There are questions about this. There are questions with some countries and questions for Biden, not for Trump, because the current president is Biden, and it’s with him we need to talk about this. I have said this many times," the president clarified.
Patriot for Ukraine
Since the spring of this year, Ukraine has repeatedly requested its allies to provide additional Patriot systems to secure the sky from Russian missiles.
As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in July, a total of 25 Patriot batteries are needed for Ukrainian defenders to completely close the sky.
At the same time, the president emphasized that he cannot disclose how many of these systems Ukraine currently has.
