Ukrainian President Folodimir Zelinski said on Wednesday that his country is ready to spend up to 50 billion dollars for more US air defenses and assistance.
Speaking to local correspondents, Zelenskyy frame such a deal as a possible long -term security order with the United States rather than donating in Washington to Kyiv.
“We pay the money accordingly. If you want it in a box or if you want us to pay you directly, we don’t care,” Zelinski said at a meeting with the journalists.
He said that his team had already asked the United States to have specific systems and indicated that it was open to the purchase.
“We did not ask for this future package for free. We count on this even as a security guarantee,” he said.
Among his priorities are 10 air defense systems, such as a missile system on the surface of Patriot.
“This is protection, and this will help us after the end of the war. It is a security guarantee that ensures that Ukraine is covered with air defense,” he said.
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine “is ready to find $ 30 or $ 50 billion for the relevant package.”
Ukraine will purchase advanced American arms systems for long-term use to make it a more traditional agent in the American military industry-which almost always requires and comes with a strong rapprochement with Washington.
Zelenskyy’s proposal comes at a time when the relationship between the United States has deteriorated, which was characterized by the shock ring in March at the White House that included President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
At the practical stage, Trump was looking for concessions from Ukraine to obtain aid provided under the Biden administration. In February, he said he wanted to “hold a deal” with Ukraine “To secure what we offer them with their rare land and other things. ”
“I want them to give us something all the money we offer. We ask the rare land and oil, anything we can get,” Trump said in February.
So far, and The United States gave Ukraine About $ 70 billion of weapons aid and $ 51 billion in financial aid, according to the Kiel Institute in favor of tracing the global economy.
This makes the Pentagon the largest individual arms aid to Ukraine, with Europe as a whole with weapons worth $ 54 billion.
Meanwhile, European countries have pledged $ 126 billion as additional military and financial aid to Ukraine, as doubts about the United States’ commitment to support Kiev.
Zelinski previously rejected the idea that Ukraine retroactively pushed the weapons sent in the past.
“But if this issue is raised in the metal agreement, we will not face old debts,” Zellinski said in March. “If it comes to new support, the United States may impose certain conditions.”
“We understand that this administration will not do anything for free,” he added.
