Volodymyr Zelenskyy requests urgent supply of Patriot missiles to defend Ukraine against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an urgent plea for other nations to share their Patriot missile stockpiles to help Ukraine defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. During a recent Russian air assault, Ukraine was able to intercept only one of 27 ballistic missiles, highlighting a significant shortage of interceptors. While the U.S. has faced a shortage due to the Iran war, the administration announced that the U.S. would be cautious about granting Ukraine the license to build its own Patriot systems. President Trump said he would be judicious and careful about sharing such advanced technology. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged that replenishing these stockpiles could take months or years, as production by companies like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin is currently stretched. Representative Don Bacon noted that allowing Ukraine to build its own Patriots would help alleviate the global shortage of interceptors.