Ukraine needs more modern air defense systems to protect its cities, where strategically important infrastructure is located, including that which ensures the export of agricultural products to the world market. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with media representatives after the negotiations with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Kyiv.
The Head of State noted that today Russia attacks Ukrainian ports and other infrastructure with missiles and drones.
As the President emphasized, it is necessary to ensure air defense of all Ukrainian cities, especially those that supply the military, through which the main logistics corridors pass, where strategic infrastructure and nuclear facilities are located.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that such systems as SAMP/T and Patriot can protect Ukraine's port infrastructure. They can be provided by the respective states.
"I've negotiated with Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni, and there are SAMP/T systems. They work perfectly. If we had additional systems, they would protect the infrastructure of Odesa, and not just the port. Or it could be Patriot systems," he said.
Answering journalists' questions, the Head of State said that after Russia's withdrawal from the agreement on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which it had previously signed with the UN and Türkiye, Ukraine began working at various levels to prolong the functioning of the "grain corridor".
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he plans to discuss the functioning of the grain corridor with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
