Ukraine received a US-made Patriot air defense system from Israel a month ago, with two additional units expected in the coming months, the President said Saturday.
Kyiv is racing to strengthen its air defenses against daily Russian drone and missile attacks, particularly as winter approaches, when heating infrastructure is often targeted.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Israel initially maintained a neutral stance, refraining from sanctions against Moscow, unlike Western allies. However, ties between Israel and Russia have cooled amid Russia’s growing closeness to Iran—allegedly supplying drones used against Ukraine—and the Kremlin’s criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The President stated that in September and October, US and Ukrainian delegations will hold several meetings regarding weapons acquisitions through “various programs,” without specifying financing sources. Kyiv has provided Washington with a list of desired weapons as part of a plan to purchase $90 billion in arms, first announced in August.
When asked about media reports suggesting Ukraine requested US long-range Tomahawk missiles, the President confirmed Kyiv is “open to separate agreements on specific types of weapons, including long-range systems,” but declined to provide further details, calling it “a very sensitive issue.”
He added that Ukraine and the United States now have “a mutual understanding of what is happening on the battlefield and what progress can be made,” describing his recent meeting with Trump as “very good.”
