“Today we can already say that there is a good result for our air defense – Ukraine now has more Patriots. I want to thank the Chancellor [ФРГ Фридриха] Merza, thanks to Germany and everyone who helps: our agreements have been fulfilled. There is also Patriot in Ukraine, we are putting it into action,” the president said.
At the same time, Zelensky emphasized that more such systems are needed for the entire territory of Ukraine in order to “close key infrastructure facilities and cities.”
“And we will continue to work to get this. And not only at the political level with states and leaders, but also with the manufacturers of all the necessary air defense systems and missiles for them. There will be meetings on this matter next week, we presented to our partners all the calculations, all possible options for how to ensure sufficiently reliable air defense,” said the Ukrainian president.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine defends itself from Russian ballistics almost every day, and “it is also necessary to further destroy Russian military aviation.”
“And all this requires a multi-component air defense system. And this is our military aviation, and there is a solution in this regard and on [истребителям] Gripen, and for French aircraft, we are working on the F-16. Also, air defense systems and missiles for them, the development of mobile fire groups and, of course, the priority now is interceptor drones,” the president said.
As Zelensky noted, the number of interceptors in 2025 “will be as determined by the state task.”
“It is important that the defense forces also quickly and efficiently, together with all involved institutions, increase the number of trained drone operators – the corresponding system,” the president concluded.
Context
The aggressor country of the Russian Federation practically every night fires at Ukraine with missiles, drones, and also adjustable aerial bombs. In recent months, Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy system facilities, as well as its gas infrastructure, have become more frequent.
Partners began transferring Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine in 2023. Patriot transfers were reported by Germany (three), the United States (three) and Romania (one). The Netherlands transferred components for the air defense system to Ukraine, in particular the radar.
In April 2025, Zelensky said that the country needed 10 Patriot systems and that it was ready to purchase them from the United States.
On July 14, US President Donald Trump announced an agreement with NATO allies on arms supplies to Ukraine. He, in particular, announced the transfer of additional Patriots to Ukraine. According to Zelensky, Germany is ready to purchase two Patriot systems for Ukraine, and Norway is ready to purchase one. The Washington Post, citing an unspecified White House official, described the scheme as follows: Germany would send its Patriot batteries to Ukraine and instead purchase an air defense system from the United States.
On August 1, the German Ministry of Defense announced that Germany “in the coming days” will transfer two more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. On September 9, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the delivery of the first launchers for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine.
On October 20, Zelensky announced that Ukraine was preparing a contract for the purchase of 25 Patriots.
