Zelensky Urges US to Provide More Patriot Missiles to Counter Russian Ballistic Attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that Ukraine urgently needs more Patriot interceptor missiles from the United States to defend against a surge in Russian ballistic attacks. In an interview with CNN, Zelensky claimed that Ukraine currently possesses only 1 percent of the interceptors it needs. He asserted that receiving 5 percent of the US stockpile would allow Ukraine to survive the winter and save lives, while 10 percent would be sufficient to destroy all Russian ballistic missiles. Zelensky noted that Russia is now launching twice as many ballistic missiles per month as before, while Ukraine has two and a half times fewer interceptors than it had in 2025.

The shortage of these missiles is attributed to a global scarcity caused by a US conflict with Iran, during which the US and Gulf states used many interceptors to counter Iranian drones and missiles. According to the United Nations, July was the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022. Zelensky described his daily efforts to secure more supplies as involving millions of phone calls and opaque negotiations with allies.

Regarding the Trump administration, Zelensky expressed uncertainty about a commitment to allow Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriot interceptors. While Donald Trump previously suggested he would grant a license for local production, he later expressed doubt about the idea. Zelensky described this as one of the biggest challenges he has faced since the start of the war. He also confirmed a recent phone call with Vice President JD Vance but did not provide details on the conversation. Additionally, Zelensky rejected the idea of conceding territory in the Donbass and stated that Vladimir Putin does not currently face enough pressure to stop the war.