Zelenskyj talks to Merz about anti-aircraft defense

Ukraine war

Zelenskyj talks to Merz about anti-aircraft defense

US Patriot systems are the best way to counter Russia’s ballistic missiles. But Ukraine has few of these, and President Zelensky is talking about it with a close ally.

Two days after a Russian missile attack Kyiv with 30 dead, President Volodymyr Zelensky with Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) talked about the needs of Ukrainian air defense. “Missiles for the Patriot systems are currently the top priority,” Zelensky wrote on social networks after the phone call.

The phone call was about how more ammunition could be procured for the Patriot air defense systems. “Russia is playing with the missile attacks on the Ukraine his last card. It no longer has any other options to prolong the war,” Zelensky said.

While Ukrainian air defenses have a relatively high hit rate against Russian drones and cruise missiles, they are largely powerless against ballistic missiles. The best defensive weapons are the US-made Patriot systems, of which Ukraine only has a few. The supplies of ammunition for this have increased due to the US war against the Iran further shortened. Germany has transferred Patriot units to Kiev and is helping to procure missiles for them.

The German side only said briefly about the conversation that Zelensky had informed Merz about the consequences of Thursday’s air attack. He thanked the Chancellor for German support, especially in air defense. Merz reiterated that Ukraine can rely on Germany’s support, a spokesman said.

Zelenskyj contradicted the Kremlin chief’s claim in the phone call Vladimir Putinthat Russian troops had completely captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka. Putin tried to become the world and US president Donald Trump on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the USA to lie, said the Ukrainian President in Kyiv.