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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called a U.S. State Department decision to authorize Ukraine to purchase Patriot interceptors a strong one. He said 500 such interceptors could give Ukraine a strong defense this winter. The interceptors are designed to counter Russian ballistic missiles. The State Department's authorization allows Kyiv to buy them for Patriot air defense systems, and Zelensky framed the decision as a significant step ahead of the cold-weather months, when Russian strikes on energy infrastructure are expected to intensify.