President Zelensky asks the West to increase support with 7 Patriot systems
(Baonghean.vn) - In just one month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has increased his request to the West for the number of Patriot air defense systems, from 5 to 7. However, the US, Kiev's main sponsor, announced that it had no spare Patriots to send.
According to RIA Novosti on April 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country needs at least 7 Patriot air defense systems, while a month ago, the required number stopped at only 5 complexes.
"It is important that all initiatives of Ukraine's friends are implemented, in particular the search for the purchase and delivery of Patriots. And this must happen as quickly as possible. Seven Patriot systems are the minimum for partners," President Zelensky said in a video message on the Telegram channel.
In late March, President Zelenksy announced that at least five Patriot systems were needed to protect Ukrainian industry.
However, the US, Kiev’s main sponsor, admitted that it had no spare Patriot systems to send. On April 27, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that US air defense capabilities were spread across the globe so they had no spare Patriot systems to send to Ukraine.
Mr. Sullivan said the US would not put its security at risk but would lobby Western partners to share air defense capabilities with Ukraine.
Regarding the supply of Patriot systems to Ukraine, on April 27, the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed the transportation of Patriots to Kiev, and the handover of armored vehicles and Leopard tanks. Previously, Pais newspaper quoted government sources as saying that Spain had agreed to supply Patriot systems to Ukraine under pressure from NATO and the EU.
According to a statement from the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the delivery of the Patriot system will "arrive in Kiev within four days."
The statement also noted that, over the next two months, Spain plans to send light and heavy machine guns, logistics vehicles, armored personnel carriers, anti-tank weapons and field artillery.
