"We have about 25% of what we need": Zelenskyy on the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defense and the need for aircraft

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine currently has only 25% of the air defense equipment needed to protect itself from Russian strikes. Also, according to the head of state, the Ukrainian Air Force needs 120 to 130 modern aircraft.

Zelenskyy made the statement in an interview with AFP on Friday, May 17. "I believe that today we have about 25 percent of what we need to protect Ukraine. I'm talking about air defense," he said.

The President also named the number of modern fighters needed in the battle for the sky:

"As for the aircraft, I say this openly. To make Russia lose air superiority, our fleet should have 120 to 130 modern aircraft."

Zelenskyy added that he was talking about a fleet of American F-16 fighter jets.

"In general, we need this fleet of F-16s in the number I mentioned to have the equalization of forces in th sky," he said.

/War in Ukraine/"We have about...