Ukraine formally presented the United States with a comprehensive list of military equipment it seeks to purchase, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced during a press briefing on 21 June.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and Presidential Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak delivered the weapons package list to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during meetings in Canada, which covered both a mineral resources agreement and Ukraine’s defense procurement needs, Suspilne News reports.

“They handed Bessent the weapons package we need. We will await feedback,” Zelenskyy stated, describing the submission as involving “a very large sum.”

The requested equipment includes Patriot air defense systems to protect its critical civilian infrastructure, such as electrical grids, residential areas, hospitals, and schools, from increasingly intense Russian missile and drone attacks.

Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s financial commitment to the purchase, saying the country is “ready to find the money for this entire package.”

Zelenskyy outlined his diplomatic objectives, stating:

“We need greater certainty and stronger pressure from the world on Putin – this is necessary for diplomacy.” 

In April 2025, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced Ukraine’s readiness to spend $30 to $50 billion to purchase a comprehensive US defense package, primarily focused on vital air defense systems like the Patriot batteries, which he views as essential not only for ongoing protection during the war but also as a long-term security guarantee.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is not seeking free assistance but is prepared to pay for the equipment, offering flexible payment options, including direct payments or through funds tied to agreements on rare mineral resources.

The minerals deal involves the creation of a joint investment fund in April 2025 to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction through revenues generated from future extraction of critical minerals, oil, and gas, with the US ensuring it is first in line to access these resources before Ukraine offers them to other countries.

However, plans for discussing the matter of buying weapons with Trump during the G7 summit in Canada were disrupted when the US president departed the event early. Trump is also avoiding a meeting with Zelenskyy at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, focusing instead on other priorities like increasing defense spending and the Middle East tensions. 

The most recent US aid package of $500 million was announced in January under the Biden administration, with Ukraine reportedly receiving 90% of previously allocated weapons by March.