Zelensky secures Trump agreement for Patriot missiles

Saturday 24 January 2026 - 08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Zelensky secures Trump agreement for Patriot missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that he secured a commitment from US President Donald Trump to supply PAC-3 missiles for Ukraine's Patriot air defense systems. This development comes as Ukraine grapples with escalating Russian missile strikes targeting its energy infrastructure amid a harsh winter.

Speaking at the second National Forum of Talented Youth in Kyiv after returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelensky stated, "I spoke with President Trump and obtained without specifying the quantity PAC-3 missiles for Patriot." He emphasized his wartime approach: "When I meet someone, I must bring something back to Ukraine."

The agreement stemmed from a 50-minute meeting between the two leaders on January 22 in Davos. Trump described the talks as "good" and told reporters afterward that "the war must end."

Zelensky stressed air defense as his top priority in discussions with Trump. "My last words to President Trump were: Don't forget air defense, don't forget the Patriots," he said. "It's very important for us this winter." He reiterated that PAC-3 interceptors are essential for countering Russian ballistic missiles like the Iskander and hypersonic Kinzhal, noting, "For ballistic missiles, nothing else works besides PAC-3 for Patriot systems."

The urgency is clear following Russian attacks on January 19 and 20, which involved 339 drones and 34 missiles, inflicting severe damage on energy facilities across Ukraine, including Kyiv. Russia also deployed its intermediate-range Orechnik ballistic missile capable of nuclear payloads against western Ukraine on January 8 and 9, striking near the Polish border in what European officials called an escalation aimed at warning the West.

Beyond air defenses, Zelensky announced that a bilateral US-Ukraine security guarantee agreement is ready for signing, pending only a date and venue from Trump. The deal would require approval from the US Congress and Ukraine's parliament.

This missile accord coincided with the start of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on January 23, the first direct negotiations involving Ukrainian, Russian, and US representatives since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. US envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism, saying negotiators had narrowed disagreements to "one issue"—widely seen as territorial control in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky cautioned that the "last mile" to peace remains challenging, insisting, "Russia must be ready to end the war it started." The talks are set to continue through Saturday.