Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that his country is ready to buy at least 10 Patriot air defense systems from the United States - quite expensive systems, which Kiev has so far insisted on receiving from its allies in the form of aid, Agence France-Presse reported.
"Ukraine is ready to buy at least 10 systems. I spoke about this minimum with President Trump in our telephone conversation. He told me that America is working on the issue," Zelensky said at a press conference in Kiev.
"I have no other information so far," he noted, specifying that "he is holding separate talks with the Europeans, as this is too expensive".
According to analysts, one Patriot battery could cost up to $2.5 billion, and each missile for the system up to $10 million.
Last Friday, Zelensky already asked Ukraine's allies to supply him with additional Patriot systems to help the country counter the increasing Russian air attacks.
"We really need them," he said in a video message to the defense ministers of Ukraine's allies, who gathered for a meeting in Brussels.
Over the past three years, Ukraine has received several Patriot systems from the United States, Germany, the Netherlands and Romania, AFP recalls.
At today's press conference, Zelensky accused President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, who has been talking to Moscow in the ceasefire talks, of "adopting the Russian strategy" and "spreads the Russian narrative".
"I think Mr. Witkoff has adopted the strategy of the Russian side. I think this is very dangerous because he is consciously or unconsciously spreading the Russian version," he said.
Witkoff is Russian President Vladimir Putin's preferred interlocutor in negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The two have met three times since February, with their last meeting taking place last week in Russia, AFP notes.
According to Zelensky, Witkoff will talk to the heads of Ukrainian, French, German and British diplomacy during his visit to Paris, which began today.