Zelenskyy on Patriot licenses for Ukraine: No refusals, but nothing granted
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine requested licenses from the United States to produce Patriot air defense systems. While the US did not refuse, no action has been taken, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with Le Parisien.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the war is a "battle of weapons, intellect, and technology." Therefore, Western partners should help Ukraine by granting licenses for weapons production.
"I’ve asked the US many times: ‘Give us licenses to produce Patriots.’ No one seemed to be against it. No one has ever said to me: 'No, we won't give it to you'. But we still haven’t received anything," Zelenskyy stated.
He explained that Ukraine has repeatedly told its partners that in order to have a strong Ukrainian army, it is necessary to ensure that the soldiers do not worry about the safety of their families in the rear. Troops should focus on the front lines and the enemy, while the rear must be protected by modern air defense systems.
The President also noted that while he has frequently asked Western countries to help close Ukraine’s skies, the country still lacks the necessary number of air defense batteries. The partners explained that they do not have the capacity to produce so many systems, as there are many countries in the world that need them.
"And so I asked: ‘Give us licenses; we will produce air defense systems and other weapons. Give us the frozen Russian assets. We will take this money and produce weapons.’ For now, we have what we have," Zelenskyy concluded.
Patriot for Ukraine
Patriot systems are one of the main needs of Ukrainian defenders, as they can shoot down not only cruise missiles but also ballistic missiles.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the country needs 12-15 more Patriot systems or similar systems to protect its skies.
According to the head of the Ukrainian state, partners can provide the required number of air defense systems for Ukraine, but it all depends on political will.
