April 10, 2024
Ukraine aims to obtain an additional seven Patriot air defense batteries as soon as possible and has offered countries to loan the systems to Kyiv, Kuleba told the Washington Post (WP) in an interview published on April 10.
As Russia intensified its attacks on Ukraine during the spring, the shortage of air defense systems in Ukrainian cities and villages is being felt more as Russian attacks have caused an uptick in casualties.
According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia launched over 400 missiles of various types, 600 Shahed drones, and 3,000 guided aerial bombs at Ukraine in March, causing severe damage to infrastructure.
Kyiv has ramped up its calls on allies to provide Ukraine with more air defenses, in particular, with U.S.-made Patriot systems that can intercept ballistic missiles.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to cover the country completely but Kuleba said he is initially focused on securing seven. This would be enough to protect Ukraine’s largest cities and leave at least one battery to be closer to the battlefield.
Kuleba said that his team identified over 100 available Patriots abroad, adding that he “struggles to understand” why some countries refuse to transfer at least one of their systems to Ukraine.
Kuleba even offered countries to lend Patriots to Ukraine, promising to return the batteries as soon as needed.
“I feel myself hitting the wall with my own head, although I’m a diplomat, and that means I have to dismantle the wall brick by brick,” Kuleba told WP.
“But since this kind of diplomacy doesn’t work, I feel like hitting the wall. I just don’t understand why it’s not happening.”
According to the minister, four countries in Europe and Asia have Patriots that could be sent to Ukraine immediately, but he also continues lobbying the U.S. to deliver its systems.
“Do you sincerely believe that the whole U.S. Army does not have one spare battery of Patriots that is not on combat duty and that cannot be given to Ukraine? I don’t.”
After Kuleba stressed Ukraine’s need for Patriots at the NATO foreign ministers meeting in Belgium’s capital on April 3-4, some of Kyiv’s allies have pledged to look for air defense systems for Ukraine.
https://kyivindependent.com/kuleba-ukraine-aims-to-obtain-7-patriot-batteries-in-near-future
“I feel myself hitting the wall with my own head, although I’m a diplomat, and that means I have to dismantle the wall brick by brick,”
Can anyone tell my why the so-called friends don’t act on their own accord when seeing Ukrainian cities being clobbered day and night? And, why they at least don’t act when being asked? It’s not like they are at war and need their air defenses right now. They all still have effective air forces and so on, and wouldn’t have to send everything they have.
I just don’t get it.
I often wish they would all get attacked massively until they run out of ammo, so they can see what it’s like. If their lethargy and stupidity lasts for much longer, they may very well enjoy being on the receiving end one day soon, that’s for damned sure.
I really don’t understand this whole bullshit. We can hand ANYTHING to Ukraine if Kyiv will pay for it. So Ukraine can fight until victory or until they run out of men and money. Their choice. Denying Kyiv vital arms and ammo supplies means our governments are assisting RuSSia in destroying Ukraine, period. 😠🤒
I’m with you, Mike. I don’t get it either.
The KSA has Patriots. Shitloads. Maybe up to 100.
Take some of them back.
Anyway, get Ukraine Patriots in triple quick time in big numbers.
Otherwise even more little children will die.
The whole magaputler movement should be charged and put on trial for being accessories to mass murder.
I meant of course “charged”, not “changed.”
At the moment WP does not let me edit comments.
I ‘changed’ it for ya Sir Scradge.👍
Thank you Bill!
You’re welcome Sir Scradge.
WP is sometimes strange.
I think the KSA doesn’t give a rat’s ass about Ukraine, scradge. They only love (screw) money, expensive cars, and camels.
No of course.
But I just thought that under the terms of the contract, the US could recall a few at least.
Under a real president, this would be a possibility. But, under a real president, we wouldn’t have to grovel to a rag head country for anything. Ukraine should’ve had what it needs in sufficient numbers two years ago already.
“Large Trypillya thermal power station in Kyiv Oblast was attacked with russian missiles this morning.”
The situation is really getting worse day by day. Obviously dramatic human losses, but also of territory, villages, power stations… Without US aid, the acceleration will be brutal when the artillery launches their last shells or interceptors. Only a few weeks separate us from this nightmare scenario for Ukraine.
If this silent majority in Congress is truly on Ukraine’s side, what is it waiting for to act? I no longer understand this criminal passivity.
“Trypilska TPP generated more than 50% of the energy for the Kyiv region. It was completely destroyed by the Russian strike”
Biden, EU, Congress, NATO wake up!
Criminal passivity is what it is. These assholes in the House have no morals and certainly no compassion. Not sure how this could ever make America great.
“Parliament refuses discharge of the Council budget until European Council decided to support Ukraine with additional Patriot anti-missile systems !”