“I told Trump very clearly.” Zelenski revealed how much money he puts on the table Ukraine to buy 10 Patriot systems
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski holds a press statement, in the presence of the German Defense Minister, after a visit to a military training base in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, northeast Germany, on June 11, 2024, where Ukrainian soldiers are trained to use the anti-aircraft systems “Patriot”. Photo: Jens Büttner / AFP / Profimedia
Ukraine is prepared to purchase ten Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems, in exchange for $ 15 billion, to protect densely populated cities in front of rocket and Russian rockets, said Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, in an interview with CBS News.
Zelenski said he made this offer directly to US President Donald Trump and that he had previously approached her with the administration of former White House leader Joe Biden, writes The Kyiv Independent.
“I told President Trump very clearly what we can do,” Zelenski said, in the interview published on Sunday.
Kiev officials have repeatedly urged Western allies to increase their support for Ukraine's anti-aircraft, warning that current deliveries are not sufficient to counteract the intensity of Russian attacks.
“There is a Patriot system and you have a lot of them. You also have a production capacity. There are a few steps to protect Ukraine. Pass number one: a system costs $ 1.5 billion – we are ready to buy it,” Zelenski said.
The Ukrainian leader added that his country is ready to buy ten patriot systems.
“That means $ 15 billion. We are ready to pay them. We will find the money and pay everything,” Zelenski added.
Although Kiev and Moscow agreed on a partial cessation of fire, on March 11, US-mediated understanding, Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities did not get stuck in April, noted the Kiev publication.
Russian forces have launched 70 missiles, 2,200 shahed (Kamikaze drones) and 6,000 guided air bombs in the last 30 days, said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiga, last Friday. And the Russian attack on the city of Sumî, on Sunday, killed at least 35 civilians and injured another 120, according to the latest balance announced by the Ukrainian authorities. Another Russian attack on Krivoi Rog, Zelenski's hometown, made on April 4, killed 20 people, including nine children, and injured more than 70, according to the Ukrainians.
In addition to the proposal for Ukraine to buy these anti -Jewish systems, President Zelenski also appealed to the Trump administration and, in the past, to Biden, to grant Kiev licenses to produce Patriot systems and their missiles.
“We know how difficult it is to order systems, order missiles, negotiate their purchase or receive assistance,” Zelenski said in the interview. “We wanted to pay, get the licenses and then understand how long it would take us to build a complete system for the” closing “of our heaven,” the Ukrainian leader added.
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