Ukrainian foreign minister on Patriot interceptors: We're literally fighting for every missile
Ukrainian acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has described how Ukraine is fighting to secure interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems.
Source: Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Sybiha said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has set the task of localising production of critical types of weapons in Ukraine as much as possible.
Quote: "That's why we will continue to accelerate the process of obtaining licences as much as possible. We've already obtained these licences with some partners, and certain production lines have been set up. This is a sensitive area, and it wouldn't be right to say which ones. I think the enemy will see and feel this on the battlefield."
Details: Sybiha stressed that expanding anti-ballistic capabilities is a key issue.
Quote: "Unfortunately, that's the world we live in and those are the geopolitical realities that the American side can produce around 600 PAC-3 missiles a year. And given the situation in the Middle East, we understand how difficult it currently is for us to receive, buy, exchange and obtain these missiles – we are literally fighting for every single one. And today the president will hold further separate meetings on this."
Details: Sybiha added that a meeting of the heads of Ukraine's diplomatic missions abroad is currently taking place in Kyiv, with every ambassador working to secure missiles, particularly anti-ballistic ones.
Quote: "We are also working with the American side on this. Consultations on licensing issues with manufacturers have already taken place and will continue – there are several stakeholders involved. There have been substantive talks between the president of Ukraine and the president of the US. Now all these issues need to be discussed with all the stakeholders. These talks are ongoing."
Background:
- Financial Times reported that US President Donald Trump, at his meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office last week, declined his request for hundreds of additional Patriot interceptor missiles ahead of winter.
- During the public part of the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit on 8 July, the US president said that the US would grant Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot systems.
- However, Trump subsequently said he has not yet decided whether to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, saying the US has to be "very careful" on this issue.
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