Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged his country’s military allies to prioritize air defense, emphasizing that recent Russian attacks demonstrate Moscow’s unwillingness to implement realistic peace proposals.
Zelenskyy made this appeal during a video meeting with the Ramstein group, stressing the need for enhanced air defense capabilities to protect Ukraine’s skies.
In a nightly address, Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s readiness to purchase additional air defense systems, revealing prior discussions with former US President Donald Trump on this matter.
“Ukraine is not just asking – we are ready to buy appropriate additional systems,” Zelenskyy stated, adding that the government would allocate extra funds for electronic warfare to bolster air defenses.
Meanwhile, a meeting between US and Ukrainian officials in Washington ended without breakthroughs on America’s proposal to access Ukraine’s mineral wealth.
The negotiations were reportedly tense, with sources citing an “antagonistic” atmosphere stemming from the US’s “maximalist” draft proposal, which is more expansive than the original version.
A US Treasury Department spokesperson confirmed the discussions, describing them as “technical in nature”.
The US and its allies have pledged to enhance Ukraine’s air force and air defense capabilities, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reaffirming this commitment.