Ukraine will be able to get through the winter and save lives if the US sells it 5% of its existing stock of Patriot interceptor missiles, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with CNN. In his assessment, the sale of 10% from this stockpile would enable Ukraine’s air defence forces to shoot down all Russian ballistic missiles; however, Kyiv currently has access to only 1%.
Briefly about the main points
- Zelenskyy has asked the US to sell Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.
- He said that five per cent of US reserves would be sufficient for the winter.
- Ten per cent, according to the president’s estimate, would make it possible to shoot down all ballistic missiles.
- Ukraine has significantly fewer interceptors than it will have in 2025.
- Negotiations on the production of Patriot missiles in Ukraine have not yet yielded any results.
Ballistic attacks have intensified ahead of the autumn and winter period
Russia has sharply stepped up its ballistic missile attacks in recent weeks, and Kyiv is coming under particularly intense strikes, Mr Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine has 2.5 times fewer interceptor missiles this year than it will have in 2025.
At the same time, Russia is launching twice as many ballistic missiles per month as before. There are still several months to go before the start of the autumn-winter period, when Moscow launches massive attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
According to the UN, July was the deadliest month for Ukraine’s civilian population since April 2022. The President described the night-time strikes as a regular occurrence and a source of great hardship for the people.
Kyiv is seeking missiles via the White House, its allies and resource-sharing arrangements
Zelenskyy stated that he is contacting the White House directly via phone calls and messages, and is also trying to persuade allies to increase Patriot aid. According to him, he makes «millions» of phone calls every day in an effort to secure additional interceptors.
The President stated that he is attempting to exchange certain resources for missiles. He cannot disclose some of the details of the agreements publicly, but emphasised that this does not mean such actions are unlawful.
Global shortage of interceptor missiles The situation intensified following the US war with Iran, during which the United States and the Gulf states deployed dozens of such missiles against Iranian missiles and low-cost drones. The shortage is felt most acutely in Ukraine, where cities are sometimes left virtually defenceless against missile attacks.
Negotiations on the production of Patriot systems in Ukraine have not yet yielded any results
Zelenskyy highlighted the possibility of licensed production of Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine as a separate area of focus. US President Donald Trump stated during the NATO summit in Ankara that he would allow Ukraine to obtain the relevant licence, but a few days later he said he wasn’t sure about the idea.
Zelenskyy noted that the manufacturers of the Patriot systems had already sent their representatives to Kyiv to discuss this option. However, the talks have not yet yielded any concrete results.
