‘Good and quiet diplomacy didn’t work’: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister spoiled NATO’s party for the sake of Patriot

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wants to obtain additional idle Patriot air defense batteries from the West and will no longer ask politely.

Kuleba made this statement in an interview with The Washington Post.

Kuleba expressed hope that his new style of tough diplomacy would bring success.

“Yes, people may hate me, and I may spoil relationships. Another part of me says that diplomacy is strictly about private relations. But then I told that part to shut up, and the part of me that wanted to speak out started speaking. We’ve tried everything, and it seems nothing helps,” Kuleba said.

The Minister stated that his team has identified more than 100 available Patriots, with some neighboring countries having more than one battery guarding ports or airfields.

Kuleba said he finds it “difficult to understand” the resistance of some countries to transfer at least one of their systems to Ukraine.

During a recent meeting in Brussels commemorating NATO’s 75th anniversary, Kuleba sharply told those present:

“I’m sorry I spoiled the birthday party, but who can believe that the most powerful military alliance in the world cannot find seven Patriot batteries to supply the only country in the world that fights ballistic missile attacks every day?”

Kuleba joked that the “luckiest” ministers at the meeting were those who could say their country doesn’t have Patriots.

“But those who do feel uncomfortable,” he said.

The Minister disclosed that he even offered countries to lend Patriots to Ukraine, promising to return the batteries once requested. He admitted feeling deep disappointment.

“I feel like banging my head against the wall, though I’m a diplomat, which means I have to dismantle the wall brick by brick. But since such diplomacy doesn’t work, I want to crash into the wall. I just don’t understand why this isn’t happening,” Kuleba said.