Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday, 16 October, in Brussels that European stocks of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles are enough for Ukraine to survive the winter. EU leaders have received from him a list of minimum needs, but it is not yet known how much equipment will actually reach Kyiv.
Zelensky spoke at a briefing after meetings at the European Council summit. According to Ukrinform, when asked about figures, he said he did not yet know in what quantities individual countries would help. He added, however, that according to the calculations he presented, Europe has missiles in the amount Ukraine needs for the winter.
“One-to-one”, or the minimum
Zelensky stressed that the winter support package concerns primarily PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles for intercepting ballistic missiles. As Ukrinform reports, the president noted that no one expects two missiles to be used per Russian ballistic missile, as is usually done. Kyiv is counting on “one-to-one”, meaning the smallest possible stockpile. According to the Washington Times, Zelensky said this is the “absolute minimum” needed to defend critical infrastructure. All leaders are to receive the list of needs.
Earlier on Friday, the Ukrainian president also described a meeting with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Costa wrote that Zelensky’s presence in Brussels is a signal that EU support for Ukraine remains as strong as ever.
Background: according to CNN, Patriots have run out
The statement followed CNN reports from earlier this week that Ukraine had practically run out of American interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. The Washington Times cites them; neither Kyiv nor Washington has officially confirmed them. Russia has been striking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for several nights, and the war is entering its fifth winter.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Zelensky held talks in Brussels, including with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. As he wrote on X, the talks concerned protection against Russian attacks, and Rutte mentioned an “energy ceasefire” and the PURL mechanism, through which allies finance deliveries of American equipment. On Wednesday, the president also spoke about a new French air package.
€70 billion and our own anti-ballistic defence
According to France 24, Zelensky told EU leaders that the war will cost €155 billion next year, and that Ukraine needs at least €70 billion more from Europe for defence, armaments and the country’s resilience.
The president also announced work on its own anti-ballistic system, which is to be faster to produce and cheaper. As he said, Ukraine will share it with European partners. Zelensky also pointed to dependence on Starlink for shooting down Russian jet-powered drones; according to France 24, the service has not been fully restored after a week of disruptions.
What it means
The declaration is not yet a commitment by any state: specific deliveries of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles must be agreed bilaterally, and the figures are not public. For Poland, which borders Ukraine and is involved in supporting it, it will matter whether EU governments decide to give up part of their own stockpiles, which also affects their own security. As of publication, it has not been reported which countries will hand over how many missiles.
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