KYIV, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a pressing need to have advanced air defense equipment, declaring Monday that Ukraine plans to purchase 25 Patriot air defense systems in the United States.

MADRID, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Spain promised to roll out an unspecified "substantial" aid package for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Madrid on Tuesday and met Spanish defence sector executives, aiming to bolster Kyiv's air defences against Russia's invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who signed the document with French President Emmanuel Macron, called it “a historic deal” at a joint news conference at the Elysée presidential palace.

Running fleets of incompatible aircraft creates problems with logistics and pilot training, and Kyiv also faces cash issues.

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of Patriot air defense system sustainment and related equipment to Ukraine for an estimated cost of $105 million, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Raytheon, an RTX company, and Lockheed Martin are working with Ukraine to enable its Patriot air-defence system to intercept upgraded Russian missiles, Ukrainian