Zelenskyy asked U.S. to transfer 5% of its Patriot missile stockpile to Ukraine, - Pence
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence stated that the depletion of U.S. weapons stocks due to the war with Iran would not hinder Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested 5% of the Patriot missiles for defense during the winter.
According to Censor.NET, he made these remarks during an appearance on CNN’s "State of the Union," as reported by The Hill.
"I don’t see it that way, and I don’t think… the Ukrainians do either," Pence noted this while commenting on concerns about the depletion of U.S. military stockpiles.
According to him, during a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the latter emphasized that Ukraine has the capacity to continue its fight against Russia, in particular thanks to the widespread use of drones.
At the same time, Pence drew attention to the intensification of Russian strikes on Ukraine. He called Russia’s use of long-range ballistic missiles an "act of desperation" by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelenskyy requested 5% of Patriot stockpiles
Pence said that Zelenskyy expects Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to intensify as winter approaches. In light of this, the Ukrainian president asked the U.S. to transfer a portion of its stockpile of missiles for the Patriot systems.
According to the former U.S. vice president, this amounts to only 5% of the Patriot missiles remaining in the U.S. arsenal.
‘We’re looking just for 5 percent of your remaining Patriot inventory,’ Pence quoted Zelenskyy's words.
According to the Ukrainian president, this number may be sufficient to defend the country during the winter months.
"If we give them what they need, they’re going to secure their sovereignty and a peaceful and just future," Pence said.
The U.S. Is facing issues with its Patriot stockpiles
Earlier, media reports indicated a significant reduction in U.S. stockpiles of air and missile defense systems due to the war with Iran. According to published estimates, the U.S. military has used up about 80% of its stockpile of interceptors for short-range systems, and Patriot missile stockpiles have been reduced by roughly half since the start of the conflict.
Analysts estimate that it may take the U.S. until mid-2029 to restore Patriot stockpiles to the level they were at before large-scale hostilities began.
At the same time, Pence believes that the current situation with U.S. weapons stockpiles should not prevent Ukraine from receiving the necessary support.
