Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced plans to procure 25 Patriot air defence systems in a multi-year contract aimed at significantly strengthening Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian aerial attacks, particularly ballistic missile threats.
Speaking to media on Sunday, with remarks cleared for publication Monday, Zelenskiy said the systems would be delivered annually over several years. He added that Ukraine would seek priority access from European partners already in line for the U.S.-made systems.
Patriot systems are regarded by Kyiv as the most effective defence against Russian ballistic missiles, which travel at hypersonic speeds and have been used extensively in recent strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure.
Zelenskiy also expressed willingness to travel to Budapest for potential trilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, who are scheduled to meet in the Hungarian capital. He said he would attend if a formal trilateral or “shuttle diplomacy” format were proposed.
The Ukrainian leader’s comments came ahead of reports by Reuters and other outlets that Trump had urged Zelenskiy to consider concessions during a tense meeting at the White House on Friday. Zelenskiy described the discussions as lengthy and constructive.
“After many rounds of discussion over more than two hours with [Trump] and his team, his message, in my view, is positive – that we stand where we stand on the front line,” Zelenskiy said.
The announcement of the Patriot deal and Zelenskiy’s diplomatic overture come amid continued efforts to secure Western support and navigate complex negotiations aimed at ending the war, now in its third year.
