President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the United States to find a way to provide Ukraine with 500 PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot air defense systems this winter rather than several years from now. He said the missiles are particularly needed now as Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Zelenskyy said this on Telegram.
The president described the US State Department’s decision to allow Ukraine to purchase 500 PAC-3 missiles as a strong step, but noted that deliveries under the approved plan may not begin for several years.
“We are asking our American partners to find a solution precisely when there is a real danger and a real need for PAC-3 interceptors,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, Russian forces carried out more than 30 strikes on important parts of Ukraine’s energy system during the last two weeks of October alone.
The president said Ukraine had asked its American partners for a winter support package providing 100 Patriot interceptors per month.
Zelenskyy believes that 500 missiles could significantly strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses over the coming months, at a time when Russia is seeking to inflict maximum damage on energy and municipal infrastructure.
The president also said that the United States, European countries and other partners have sufficient stocks of PAC-3 interceptors in their warehouses. In his view, some of these missiles could be transferred to Ukraine during the winter of 2026-2027, while partners could replenish their arsenals in subsequent years through already contracted production.
Zelenskyy thanked US President Donald Trump, the State Department and the US administration for approving the sale and said he had recently discussed Ukraine’s need for PAC-3 interceptors with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“We are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or sometime later, but precisely when the threat exists — when Russia is killing and destroying,” the president said.
Earlier, “Glavnoe in Ukraine” reported that the US State Department had approved the possible sale of PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine at an estimated cost of $2.1 billion.
