Kyiv Wants to Buy 10 Patriot Systems – Zelensky

April 21 ------ President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine wants to purchase 10 Patriot air defense systems. Zelensky’s comments came after a deadly Russian attack on Ukraine’s Sumy on Palm Sunday, with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal signaling in March that Ukraine has been facing a Patriot missile shortage that affects its ability to fend off Russian missiles.  

Zelensky said he had already informed Washington of Kyiv’s desire to purchase the systems but is now awaiting a response. “Ukraine is ready to purchase at least 10 systems. I told President [Donald] Trump about this minimum during our phone conversation. He told me that America would work on it. So far, I have no other information,” Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv on Thursday, according to The Guardian.  

Zelensky requested the same number of Patriot systems at the meeting in Ramstein on April 11. “You know that Patriot systems can effectively protect against ballistic threats… 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. What is needed now are political decisions to make them work for peace,” Zelensky said.  

Defense Express reported on April 8 that Ukraine has six Patriot systems, with a minimum of 10 being required to defend the country, and 25 being the ideal number. A single Patriot battery complete with power plants, radar sets, and other equipment costs the American taxpayer or foreign military about $1 billion, according to a December 2022 Kyiv Post article, prior to the first Patriot system delivery to Ukraine. 

Source: kyivpost.com