President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a letter to US President Donald Trump warning that Ukraine is running out of air defense capabilities, particularly its ballistic missile interceptors.
The Kyiv Independent reported this, citing its own sources; the text of the letter was later published by journalist Barak Ravid.
"When it comes to air defence against missiles, we rely on our friends. When it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States," the document states.
Unnamed sources told the publication that officials in Kyiv fear that the limited supply of interceptors for the MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems and other systems provided by the West may prove insufficient to repel attacks from russia, the aggressor nation.
"The situation regarding missile defense is indeed complicated," one of the sources said.
According to this source, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the US, Olha Stefanishyna, is sending this letter to the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and other members of Congress.
The publication notes that this appeal reflects Kyiv’s growing concern regarding the difficulties in obtaining weapons under the PURL program, which allows NATO allies to fund the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine.
The letter states that current deliveries under the PURL program no longer match the reality of the threat Ukraine faces. Therefore, Kyiv is asking Washington for help in defending its airspace against russian missiles.
"I, on behalf of the Ukrainian people, respectfully ask the president and the U.S. Congress to remain engaged. And to help us secure this vital tool of protection against Russian terror — Patriot missiles PAC-3 and additional systems — to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks," the letter reads.
Journalist Barak Ravid published the text of Zelenskyy’s letter to Trump, House Speaker Johnson, and Congress.
1 / Zelensky's letter to President Trump and to Congress asking for urgent supply of Patriot interceptors (see the rest of the letter in the following tweet) pic.twitter.com/uThDDjOZbz
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) May 27, 2026
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on May 12, the American publication The Washington Post wrote, citing sources, that the Ukrainian army had used up almost all of its missiles for the Patriot air defense systems. They are used to intercept the occupiers’ ballistic missiles.
As a reminder, on April 26, Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communications Directorate of the Ukrainian Air Forces, stated that Ukrainian air defense forces were facing a shortage of missiles for the Patriot system.
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