Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday he is willing to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while warning that monthly deliveries of PAC-3 interceptor missiles from Western partners have been reduced several times over because of demand from the war in the Middle East.
Zelensky made the remarks alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a news conference in Kyiv following a meeting of the Ukraine–NATO Council.
“I am ready for direct negotiations with Putin to end this war,” he said.
The missile reductions, he said, had nothing to do with funding. The cuts came because partner nations were diverting supplies to meet demand elsewhere. Ukraine has been unable to fill the gap through domestic production and has since been searching for alternative suppliers willing to accept immediate payment — after determining that new contracts with American manufacturers would not deliver until around 2030 because of production backlogs.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry, defense ministry, and national security council are tasked with securing those agreements, Zelensky said.
Zelensky said a U.S. negotiating team has yet to arrive and that Washington’s focus has shifted to Iran. He still called the United States the only actor capable of pressing Russia toward peace — but said Europe must have a seat at the table. Without it, he said, there is no guarantee European interests will be heard.
Zelensky said Ukraine is not coming to the table from a position of weakness. His forces have carried out deep strikes reaching 1,100 kilometers, he said. “Thanks to our Armed Forces, we can feel our strength on the battlefield.”
Every Allied nation at Tuesday’s council meeting voiced support for Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership, Zelensky said, though full Allied agreement needed for membership has not been reached.
Allied countries also announced new contributions to the PURL air defense initiative, with deliveries expected in June.
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