La Derecha Diario Zelensky wants to make the largest military purchase in history with European money
The Ukrainian president will seek to acquire 'Patriot' air defense systems while Europe coordinates a peacekeeping force without the United States
On April 10, Ukraine's main allies will meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels to continue discussions on a possible peace mission in Ukraine, in case an agreement is reached with Russia.
The meeting will be led by the Defense Ministers of France, Sébastien Lecornu, and the United Kingdom, John Healey. European countries, Canada, and Australia will participate, although the absence of the United States is noted once again.
Ukraine insists on the need for an international peace mission that includes troops deployed by land, sea, and air as a deterrent against future Russian aggressions.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized the importance of such a mission including air defense systems and a clear strategic mandate. He also noted that he expects more concrete definitions on the timeline of this mission next month.
Pavlo Palisa, Ukraine's chief defense advisor, indicated that around a dozen countries would be willing to be part of this coalition and send troops. There is also talk of the participation of Baltic and Nordic countries.
However, several allies, including the United Kingdom, are cautious about deploying troops without the support of the United States, whose position remains that of negotiation under the leadership of President Donald Trump.
Russia, meanwhile, has warned that any military deployment without the UN Security Council's mandate would be unacceptable. Despite these challenges, Ukraine continues to push for a peace mission to strengthen its security, while NATO membership remains blocked.
The day after the coalition meeting, NATO will also host the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, where military assistance issues will continue to be discussed.
Meanwhile, Ukraine seeks to strengthen its air defense by purchasing Patriot systems from the United States. Zelensky stated that Kiev is willing to pay for the systems and has directly communicated to President Trump the intention to acquire at least 10 units.
"We don't want it for free," he declared, adding that Ukraine would be willing to mobilize between 30 and 50 billion dollars for a complete defense package.
Between March 23 and 25, several rounds of negotiations were held in Riyadh. The delegations of Ukraine and the United States discussed possible terms of a 30-day ceasefire at energy facilities, as well as issues related to maritime security in the Black Sea.
A meeting between representatives of Russia and the United States was also held in that context.
Zelensky has instructed his Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, and Foreign Minister, Andriy Sibiga, to intensify contacts with Western countries to facilitate the transfer of air defense systems and explore the possibility of localizing their production in Ukraine.
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