Ukraine needs protection “from ballistic and other missiles, from drones, and from terror,” Zelenskyy said. “Ukraine must strengthen its air defense — the thing that best protects lives. These are American systems, which we are ready to buy. We count on leadership, political will, and the support of the United States, Europe, and all our partners. I thank everyone who is helping,” Zelenskyy added.
Earlier this week, during a press conference in The Hague, after a verbal exchange with a Ukrainian journalist, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. needs Patriots too.
“They [Ukrainians] want to have the anti-missiles, as they call them … the Patriots,” Trump said. “And we’re going to see if we can make some available. They’re very hard to get. We need them too. We were supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective. A hundred percent effective — hard to believe how effective,” Trump said.
Kyiv on Saturday said a Ukrainian drone strike on the Kirovske airfield in Crimea destroyed several Russian helicopters and an air defense system.
The drones targeted areas where Russian aviation units, air defense systems, ammunition depots and unmanned aerial vehicles were located, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, said in a Telegram post. The agency claimed that Mi-8, Mi-26 and Mi-28 helicopters were destroyed, along with a Pantsir-S1 missile and gun system.