Turin, 29 July (LaPresse) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios that he had asked US President Donald Trump for an emergency ‘winter package’ containing Patriot air defence interceptors to help counter Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky said that Trump had agreed, during their meeting on Tuesday, to proceed with the production licences for the Patriot system. Following his visit to the White House, the Ukrainian president said he had met with representatives from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, both manufacturers of Patriot interceptors, to discuss the matter. Even if Ukraine were to obtain the licences, it would take between one and five years to produce large quantities of interceptors – a timeframe, Zelensky explained, that is unacceptable: “We needed the Patriots yesterday,” he said, explaining that he wants 300 by winter. The Ukrainian president reported that Trump had promised to try to help, but also made it clear that this is difficult due to the need for interceptors in the war with Iran.
Ukraine, Zelensky: “We need 300 Patriot systems by winter”
Turin, 29 July (LaPresse) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios that he had asked US President Donald Trump for an emergency ‘winter package’ containing Patriot air defence interceptors to help counter Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Zelensky said that Trump had agreed, during their meeting on Tuesday, to proceed with the production licences for the Patriot system. Following his visit to the White House, the Ukrainian president said he had met with representatives from Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, both manufacturers of Patriot interceptors, to discuss the matter. Even if Ukraine were to obtain the licences, it would take between one and five years to produce large quantities of interceptors – a timeframe, Zelensky explained, that is unacceptable: “We needed the Patriots yesterday,” he said, explaining that he wants 300 by winter. The Ukrainian president reported that Trump had promised to try to help, but also made it clear that this is difficult due to the need for interceptors in the war with Iran.
