FM Kuleba on Patriot air defense for Ukraine: US army probably has one spare

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said Ukraine had identified seven Patriot air defense systems it could use to protect civilians in major cities outside Kyiv

He said this in an interview with The Guardian.

“I think the US army probably has one spare,” he said.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, the state has identified 7 Patriot air defense systems that can be used to protect civilians outside Kyiv in large cities.

At the same time, the publication notes that Spain, and Greece are currently considering the possibility of providing Ukraine with Patriot systems, and that Poland and Romania also have the systems. The Ukrainian diplomat suggested that Ukraine could receive the eighth system from the United States.

Kuleba said Ukraine’s allies should switch from “expressing condolences and sympathy to Ukrainians and promising to help with recovery, to preventing loss of life and destruction of the country”.

Kuleba added that negotiations with the allies on the Patriot were difficult because the states were bargaining for compensation.

“I’m in no doubt, given the progress we are making, that Patriots will arrive and Germany must be commended for making the first move,” he said.