Dmytro Kuleba outlined three arguments in favour of providing Ukraine with additional Patriot systems as soon as possible

During an online briefing for the world’s media on Wednesday, 27 March, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stressed Ukraine’s urgent need for more Patriot and similar air defence systems against the backdrop of increased intensity of russian ballistic missile attacks.

The Foreign Minister noted that russia had intensified its aerial terror against Ukraine and had launched 190 missiles of various types, 140 Shahed drones and 700 guided bombs against Ukraine in the week of 18-24 March alone.

“The peculiarity of the current russian attacks is the intensive use of ballistic missiles that can reach targets at extremely high speeds, leaving little time for people to take cover and causing significant destruction,” said Dmytro Kuleba.

The Minister noted that a number of countries around the world own Patriot systems. According to him, these systems can and should be transferred to Ukraine as soon as possible and called on the partners to show the appropriate political will.

“Ukraine is currently the only country in the world that is subject to ballistic missile attacks almost every day. ‘Patriots’ should be deployed here, in Ukraine, to protect real human lives, and not to remain in places where the missile threat is zero,” the Foreign Minister said.

Dmytro Kuleba named three critical results that would come from strengthening Ukraine’s air defence:

“First of all, a powerful Ukrainian air defence will save thousands of lives, which is the main goal in itself. Patriot and other similar systems are defensive by definition. They are designed to protect lives, not take them.

Second, a strong Ukrainian air defence will save a significant amount of resources for Ukraine’s partners. Every territory covered by Patriot means less destruction of critical infrastructure and less money spent on reconstruction; every city protected by Patriot means thousands of Ukrainians returning from abroad, strengthening the Ukrainian economy and reducing its dependence on foreign financial aid.

Thirdly, a strong Ukrainian air defence system will cover our troops and allow them to turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favour. russia’s main advantage on the battlefield now is the widespread use of guided aerial bombs. These bombs, which weigh an average of 500 to 1,500 kilograms, allow the russian occupiers to destroy the targets of their strikes and advance through the ruins. The only way to counter this barbaric tactic is to shoot down the aircraft that drop these bombs, which requires a sufficient number of modern air defence systems at the front. Strong air defence on the frontline would allow our troops not only not to lose ground, but also to force the russians to retreat,” the Minister stressed.