Ukraine is preparing a contract for the purchase of 25 Patriot air defence systems. They will be delivered annually, with varying quantities in different years. The 25 systems are a specific request from the Ukrainian Air Force.
Some of them are needed as soon as possible, while the rest will serve as a long-term security guarantee. Reaching an agreement on the purchase of the systems was not easy, and the process took a long time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting with journalists on 19 October.
There is a queue for Patriot production from various countries that have signed contracts. President Donald Trump will be able to change the order of the queue if there is political will.
“We understand which European countries can give us this priority in the queue. There is more positive in this issue – we are now working to get the necessary decisions,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine sees Russia’s frozen assets as the main source of funds for the purchase of the systems.
“In other words, the financial basis for this agreement has been worked out. Of course, we also need to work on another financial source. We currently have 28 bilateral security agreements with countries. Finding finances and making advance payments is the task at hand, and it is realistic within the framework of these agreements,” the Ukrainian president believes.
The White House could also allow the transfer to Ukraine of Patriot systems that are located in European countries but belong to the United States.