Ukraine to procure around 1,000 Patriot missiles from allies, defense minister says

Ukraine is contracting a supply of around 1,000 missiles for U.S.-designed Patriot air-defense systems, with assistance from allies and through a European Union loan, Kyiv’s defense minister announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Yevhenii Khmara noted that the majority of the missiles would only be delivered in the coming years and called for more urgent aid.

In comments later posted by the Defense Ministry, Khmara stated that Ukraine is asking its Western partners to provide more air defense missiles from their existing stocks. In exchange, Kyiv would offer improvements in missile performance under contracts already signed.

Khmara also highlighted that Ukraine is facing a $27 billion shortfall in financing for drone supplies.

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The ministry’s summary of the meeting indicated that Khmara presented a plan for Ukraine’s conduct of the war, which is already being implemented, along with a list of what Kyiv considers the biggest threats posed by Moscow.

Khmara said Russia is making no strategic gains along the 1,200-kilometer (750-mile) front line, but is compensating for its battlefield failures with “terror against Ukrainians.”

Russia resumed near-constant drone and missile attacks on Kyiv on Tuesday, following a brief halt during the visit of U.S. peace negotiators. Officials reported that five people were killed in the capital, along with others in various regions.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the meeting that Ukraine’s allies have no choice but to increase their support, enabling Kyiv “to seize the opportunities it is creating now across all fronts and to defend itself in the skies.”