The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenski, formally requested the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the U.S. Congress for an urgent reinforcement of the Patriot air defense systems and the interceptor missiles needed to face the intensification of Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.
The request was outlined in a letter initially released by the Ukrainian media ''The Kyiv Independent'', in which Zelenski warned that ballistic missiles remain ''the last great military advantage'' of Russia on the battlefield. According to the Ukrainian leader, Moscow continues to use this type of weaponry to strike critical infrastructure and urban centers, while Ukraine faces increasing difficulties in maintaining enough available interceptors.
''I ask for help to protect the skies of Ukraine from Russian missiles. We have already proposed that Ukraine is ready to purchase the number of Patriot systems and interceptor missiles that we need'', Zelenski wrote in the message addressed to Washington.
Currently, the U.S. interceptors of the Patriot system are practically the only tool capable of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles. However, Kiev has repeatedly denounced the shortage of ammunition for these systems since the beginning of the war, a situation exacerbated by international pressure on Western military reserves and the growing global demand for defensive weaponry.
Ukrainian President Zelensky once again requested the United States to send military equipment to face the attacks launched by Russia.
In his letter, Zelenski stated that the speed of delivery of supplies managed through NATO's PURL initiative is no longer sufficient to respond to the current level of threat. Since Trump's return to the White House, Ukraine has continued to acquire Patriot missiles through that program, primarily funded by European allies of the NATO.
''There is almost nothing more painful for a nation fighting for survival than to see Patriot batteries without loaded missiles,'' said the Ukrainian president, describing the situation facing his air defense system.
The warning came after one of the most intense Russian attacks in recent weeks. According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia launched around 30 ballistic missiles during a massive offensive carried out on Sunday. Only 11 of them could be intercepted.
The PATRIOT air defense systems are one of the few systems capable of stopping rounds of Russian-fired weaponry.
Zelenski also assured that Russian forces used two intermediate-range Oreshnik ballistic missiles, capable of carrying nuclear payloads. According to the president, one struck in the Kiev region and the other fell in occupied territory in the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian president took the opportunity in the letter to thank for U.S. support since the beginning of the Russian invasion and emphasized that Ukraine's resistance has been possible thanks to the military and financial support provided by the West, especially by Washington.
However, he also stated that Vladimir Putinwill continue to avoid real negotiations as long as he maintains significant military advantages. ''As long as Putin has even a significant advantage in conventional weapons, he will avoid conventional diplomacy,'' Zelenski wrote.
The Ukrainian leader has accused Putin of hindering negotiations due to his superiority in the armament field.
The Trump administration has maintained a position that combines limited military support with pressure on European allies to take on a greater share of the financial cost of the war. Officials close to the White House assert that sending defensive systems to Ukraine remains a strategic priority to prevent an expansion of the conflict in Europe, although they also insist that European countries must increase their economic and military participation.
Meanwhile, several European governments have hardened their tone against the Kremlin following recent Russian threats against Kiev. Belgium summoned the Russian ambassador, joining similar measures taken by Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and representatives of the European Union.
The growing diplomatic tension coincides with new Western assessments of the military cost facing Moscow. The director of the British intelligence agency GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, stated that Russia ''is retreating on the battlefield'' and assured that Russian forces would have suffered nearly half a million casualties since the beginning of the conflict.
Despite the high human losses and military wear, Russia retains the capability to launch large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities, especially through ballistic missiles and drones. For this reason, Kiev insists that strengthening air defense will be crucial to sustain resistance in the coming months and to prevent further destruction of civil and energy infrastructure.
Several Western governments have claimed that Russia has lost around 500,000 men since the beginning of the war.
