Ukraine proposes billion-dollar defense deal to the U.S.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently announced that Ukraine has officially submitted a proposal to the United States for the purchase of a new weapons package, valued at billions of dollars.
The statement was made on Wednesday, April 9, in an interview cited by the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.
"We want it, we are prepared, and we have submitted the package we wish to purchase. We want to buy it, not receive it for free. It is our decision how we pay – but we are not requesting this new package without payment," said Zelensky.
According to the President of Ukraine, the most urgent need is for anti-aircraft defense systems. In a phone conversation with President Donald Trump, Zelensky requested at least ten such systems, adding that Ukraine is prepared to allocate up to 30 or 50 billion dollars for this purpose.
Zelensky suggested that payment could be made through an agreement with the U.S. concerning the delivery of rare resources, including rare metals, which are currently under discussion between the two countries. Kyiv insists that security guarantees from Washington be included in this agreement.
"If the U.S. provides us with the necessary package, we will pay. We believe this package – which includes anti-aircraft defense systems and other essential elements – is part of our security guarantees," Zelensky stated.
To date, Ukraine has confirmed the delivery of at least four Patriot systems provided by the U.S. However, authorities in Kyiv claim that they require at least 25 complexes, each with 6–8 batteries. According to Reuters, a Patriot battery costs around 1.1 billion dollars.
It is important to note that relations between Kyiv and the Trump administration became strained, especially after Zelensky’s visit to Washington on February 28, followed by several days during which the U.S. suspended military aid and information exchanges. Since then, the Ukrainian President has adopted a more cautious approach, repeatedly expressing gratitude for the support provided by the U.S.
In early March, Ukraine accepted an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia rejected it. Afterward, U.S. assistance resumed. Subsequently, both Ukraine and Russia agreed to suspend attacks on energy infrastructure and at sea, although Moscow conditioned a maritime agreement on the easing of international sanctions.
Russia and the U.S. continue diplomatic contacts, and recently, Kirill Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, visited Washington, temporarily removed from the sanctions list.
Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia and Ukraine continue to attack each other. On April 4, Russia launched a missile attack on a residential neighborhood in Kryvyi Rih, killing 20 people, including nine children. The United Nations called the attack the deadliest incident involving child casualties since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022. President Trump remarked briefly, “I don’t like bombings,” without condemning Russia or announcing any consequences.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
