First Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

According to the diplomat, despite the availability of certain systems developed in Western Europe, China, Israel and other countries, the most proven means of countering ballistic missiles are U.S.-made Patriot systems.

"But their production volumes are simply radically insufficient for today's threats. So we have to act creatively. We are negotiating both the joint production of Patriot missiles and the exchange of places in the queue for receiving interceptors," Kyslytsya said.

Asked whether it was realistic to obtain at least 300 PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot systems, which Ukrainian authorities estimate are needed to get through next winter, he stressed that "the president, Ukrainian diplomats and the Ukrainian military are working on this every day."

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He said many partners are helping Ukraine and are handing over the last interceptors they have, while some are taking a somewhat "stingy" approach.

"But that is precisely why we are proposing various arrangements... Many may treat the topic of drone deals with irony, but among other objectives, these agreements are intended to offer countries that have certain stocks of ballistic missile defenses our means of intercepting UAVs, so that they do not have to use ballistic missiles against them," Kyslytsya explained.

As reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine had already concluded drone deals with nine countries, while another 15 such agreements were in the works.