Kyiv is intensifying its efforts to bolster its air defense against Russian bombardment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday a firm request for the acquisition of 25 Raytheon-produced Patriot air defense systems, stating there is a „clear budget” for this ambitious transaction. The message was conveyed on the X platform (formerly Twitter) and includes a desperate appeal to European countries.
Plea for Solidarity: Temporary Loans and Pressure on Production
Aware of the lengthy manufacturing lead times, Zelenskyy urged European „colleagues” to lend their Patriot systems now, with Ukraine returning them once the newly ordered units arrive from the manufacturers. „These systems are produced over several years, and we would not want to wait,” the Ukrainian leader explained, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
This is not the first time Zelenskyy has spoken about the need for 25 Patriot systems. As early as October, he stated that „the difficulty lies in the production queue” and added that „the White House can change their queue if there is political will.” This statement suggests diplomatic pressure on Washington to accelerate deliveries.
Ambitious Funding: Reparations from Frozen Russian Assets
According to Politico, Ukraine hopes to finance the Patriot acquisition through a €140 billion (approximately $162 billion) reparations loan, which would be funded by frozen Russian assets. However, approval of such a deal is still pending from European leaders, turning a potential financial solution into a high-level subject of debate.
The exact cost figure is significant. A study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank estimates that a Patriot battery costs $1.1 billion, of which $690 million is allocated for the weapon system’s missiles and $400 million for the system itself.
Redirection of Deliveries and Patriot’s Key Role in Ukraine
Zelenskyy’s latest push comes amid a US decision to reshuffle Patriot deliveries to support Kyiv. In July, the Department of Defense (DoD) informed Switzerland that it „will reprioritize” the country’s Patriot deliveries, which had ordered five systems in 2022, with deliveries initially scheduled between 2026 and 2028. „Switzerland will receive its systems later than planned,” Switzerland’s Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport stated at the time, adding that it was „currently unclear how many systems will be affected and whether the delivery of guided missiles will also be affected.”
Other European Patriot customers include Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Sweden.
On the Ukrainian front, the weapon system has been credited with successfully intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, including the formidable Kh-47M2 Kinzhal weapon. However, a reported downturn in intercept rates and Moscow rolling out flight trajectory changes to its ballistic missile arsenal appear to indicate a waning of its frontline effectiveness.
