Zelensky Wants Faster Air Defense Missiles by Borrowing From Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to discuss with some partners the temporary transfer of 10–30 air defense missiles to Ukraine, to be repaid later from the US package of 500 PAC-3 missiles. He says American deliveries are delayed by several years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described an idea for getting air defense missiles sooner, speaking to Ukrainian media in Istanbul. He plans to discuss with some partners the possibility of temporarily providing Ukraine with 10–30 missiles, which would later be returned out of the US package of 500 PAC-3 missiles, according to the agency Interfax-Ukraine.
PAC-3 missiles are used with Patriot air defense systems and are designed to intercept Russian ballistic missiles. They matter to Ukraine because Russia continues to attack the country.
How the scheme would work
Zelensky explained that during the war Ukraine has several times swapped places in delivery queues. This time he wants partners to lend part of their missiles, with Ukraine signing guarantees and agreements and later returning them from the American package, possibly with some added percentage or possibly without.
According to the president, deliveries under the American offer have been pushed back by several years because of production specifics and the fairly slow readiness of the United States to share missiles from its own stocks. He said this pace cannot ensure an adequate level of protection for Ukrainians. He also noted that a significant share of air defense packages is currently being directed to the Middle East.
He thanked the United States for the offer and acknowledged that money must be raised for it. Zelensky said he was confident funds would be found thanks to partners, primarily European ones. Ukraine will keep working on obtaining air defense systems through bilateral agreements with European and other countries, since relying on American supplies alone is not enough.
Background
The US State Department approved a possible foreign military sale to the Ukrainian government of 500 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and related equipment, estimated at $2.1 billion, funded by international partners: Canada, Germany, Norway and the EU. Zelensky welcomed the decision but said deliveries could begin only in several years. According to media reports, they are not expected before 2030.
