Zelenskyy has idea for getting air defence missiles ahead of 500-missile US package

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy plans to discuss with several partners the possibility of temporarily providing Ukraine with 10-30 air defence missiles, to be subsequently replaced using missiles from the US package of 500 PAC-3 interceptors.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking to Ukrainian journalists in Istanbul, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "Several times during this war, in various discussions, we have carried out an arrangement where you swap batches.

I will try to do this with some partners. We could get 10, 20 or 30 [missiles – ed.] from someone as part of that 500-missile package, signing the relevant guarantees and agreements that we would later replace them with missiles from the US package, perhaps with some interest or perhaps without any interest."

Details: Zelenskyy said such an arrangement would allow Ukraine to obtain some missiles from partners' stockpiles before the US deliveries arrive. Zelenskyy noted that deliveries under the US proposal have been delayed by several years due to missile production constraints and the relatively slow pace at which the US is willing to release missiles from its own stockpiles.

The president stressed that this pace would not provide sufficient protection for Ukrainians. He also noted that a significant share of air defence packages is currently being directed to the Middle East.

"We are grateful to the United States. This is a very good proposal. Of course, we need to raise money for it. I am confident that we will find the funding with the help of our partners, primarily those in Europe," Zelenskyy said.

He added that Ukraine will continue working to obtain air defence systems through bilateral agreements with European and other countries, as relying solely on US deliveries will not be enough.

Background:

• The US Department of State approved a possible foreign military sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and related equipment, estimated to be worth US$2.1 billion and funded by international partners, particularly Canada, Germany, Norway and the EU.
• Zelenskyy welcomed the US State Department's decision to authorise the purchase of interceptors for Patriot systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles, but noted that deliveries might not begin for several years.
• According to media reports, delivery of the 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles is not expected before 2030.

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