Zelenskiy Asks Trump for Patriot Missiles as Russia Intensifies Ballistic Strikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has formally appealed to US President Donald Trump and the US Congress for immediate reinforcement of Ukraine’s air defence capabilities, as Russia intensifies its ballistic missile attacks. In a letter reviewed by Reuters, Zelenskiy stressed that Moscow’s ballistic arsenal remains its “last major advantage on the battlefield.”

The Ukrainian leader specifically requested additional Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles, stating that Kyiv is prepared to purchase what it needs.

Currently, US-manufactured Patriot interceptors are Ukraine’s sole means of neutralising incoming Russian ballistic missiles. Since Trump’s return to office, Ukraine has been procuring Patriot missiles through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, funded by European allies — but Zelenskiy warned the pace is insufficient.

He further underscored the gravity of the situation by describing the anguish of seeing Patriot batteries without loaded missiles.

In its most recent large-scale assault on Sunday, Russia deployed 30 ballistic missiles against Ukraine. Of these, only 11 were intercepted, according to Ukraine’s air force. Zelenskiy also confirmed that two nuclear-capable Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles were used in the attack.

Now entering its fifth year of full-scale conflict, the Ukrainian president acknowledged American support while reiterating that any meaningful Russian advantage in conventional weapons would continue to discourage genuine diplomatic engagement from Moscow.