Ukraine is ready to buy 10 Patriot systems from US for $15bn, - Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to pay $15 billion for ten Patriot air defence systems.
He said this in an interview with CBS, Censor.NET reports.
"I respect the choice of the United States, but when the United States did not give us such systems or did not sell them, we are ready for any format. The issue is not about money," he said.
The President noted that some European partners are ready to help finance the purchase. At the same time, the United States explains the lack of transfer of systems by the fact that it does not currently have such an opportunity.
"But at this time, they are selling such systems, for example, to Israel. I'm not saying that Israel doesn't need them, but if we are partners, can't we find a way to protect Ukraine?" - he added.
Zelenskyy also said that he had voiced several options for providing Patriot in a conversation with US President Donald Trump.
"There is a Patriot system, and you have a lot of them, and you have production, there are several steps to protect Ukraine. Step one: one system, which costs one and a half billion dollars, we are ready to buy at least ten systems to cover some cities, only civilian ones, city centres, where people are crowded. This is 15 billion. We are ready to pay this 15 billion. We will find this money, and we will pay everything," he stressed.
Among the alternatives, the president mentioned the transfer of licences for the production of Patriot systems and missiles, as well as the lease of systems or the transfer of existing ones from countries where there are no hostilities.
"We were ready to get them even on lease. There are many formats to ensure this. A desire is needed," Zelenskyy summed up.
