IRIA News

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump in a desperate attempt to acquire additional Patriot air defense missiles and systems, warning that Ukraine is facing a critical shortage amid Russia’s renewed attacks.

In a five-page letter dated May 26, 2026, and addressed directly to  President Trump,  as well as members of the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy said Ukraine urgently needs more Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.

“I ask for your help in protecting Ukraine’s skies from Russian missiles,” Zelenskyy wrote. “When it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States.”

The Ukrainian leader said Patriot systems had already proven their effectiveness on the battlefield and argued that most Russian missile attacks could be intercepted if Ukraine received enough ammunition and systems.

“The majority of Russian missiles can be stopped,” Zelenskyy wrote. “And it is in Ukrainian hands that Patriot systems have proven something extremely important.”

Growing Pressure on Ukraine’s Air Defenses

The appeal comes after one of the largest Russian aerial assaults on Kyiv in recent months. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched around 90 missiles and 600 drones during a massive overnight attack on May 24.

The attacks caused widespread destruction across the Ukrainian capital and further strained the country’s already limited air defense stockpiles.

Ukrainian officials have acknowledged that securing ammunition for advanced Western-supplied air defense systems has become increasingly difficult. One senior official familiar with the situation described the shortage of anti-ballistic missile interceptors as “really tough.”

Kyiv fears that its existing supply of Patriot missiles and other Western-provided systems may not be enough to withstand the growing scale of Russian bombardments.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, Olha Stefanishyna, has reportedly been distributing Zelenskyy’s letter to the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and members of Congress in an effort to accelerate support.

Concerns Over Delays in Weapons Deliveries

Zelenskyy also raised concerns about delays in weapons deliveries through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which allows NATO allies to finance purchases of U.S.-made weapons for Ukraine.

According to the letter, the current delivery pace no longer matches the scale of the threat facing Ukraine. “The current pace of deliveries through the PURL program is no longer keeping up with the reality of the threat we face,” Zelenskyy warned.

The PURL mechanism has become increasingly important for Kyiv as European allies attempt to maintain military support while the war enters its fifth year. Several NATO members participate in the initiative, including Spain, which joined the program last year.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that dependence on U.S.-made Patriot systems remains one of the country’s biggest strategic vulnerabilities, particularly against Russian ballistic missiles.

Russia Threatens More Strikes on Kyiv

The missile defense appeal also comes amid growing Russian threats against Ukraine’s leadership and government infrastructure.

Russia announced plans for additional long-range strikes targeting what it described as Ukrainian “decision-making centers” in Kyiv. Moscow said the attacks would be retaliation for a Ukrainian strike in occupied Luhansk Oblast.

Russia claimed the Ukrainian strike hit a dormitory, while Kyiv said it targeted a Russian drone command facility.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reportedly informed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a phone call that Moscow planned further strikes on Kyiv and advised Washington to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in the Ukrainian capital.

The warnings highlighted the rapidly escalating nature of the conflict as both Russia and Ukraine intensify long-range drone and missile attacks.

Drone War Continues to Escalate

In recent months, both sides have significantly increased the use of drones in the war. Ukraine has developed advanced drone interception and combat capabilities that have drawn attention from Western militaries. Kyiv has also expanded long-range drone operations deep inside Russian territory.

Meanwhile, Russia has increased the scale and frequency of mass drone assaults. Ukrainian officials say Moscow has combined drone swarms with missile barrages in an attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.

Earlier this year, Ukraine claimed Russia launched more than 1,500 drones within a short period during a large-scale assault campaign.

At the same time, Kyiv has been pushing European allies to accelerate plans for independent missile production and air defense cooperation to reduce reliance on the United States.

Uncertain Future for US-Ukraine Relations

Zelenskyy’s request arrives at a sensitive moment in relations between Kyiv and Washington. Trump returned to the White House promising to quickly end the war in Ukraine and restart negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

However, diplomatic efforts have struggled to produce progress, with major disagreements remaining over territory and security guarantees.

The ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has also shifted international attention away from Ukraine in recent weeks, raising concerns in Kyiv about long-term Western military support.

Despite the uncertainty, Zelenskyy urged both the White House and Congress to remain engaged in Ukraine’s defense. “I, on behalf of the Ukrainian people, respectfully ask the president and the U.S. Congress to remain engaged,” he wrote.

As Russia intensifies its attacks and Ukraine’s interceptor stockpiles continue to decline, Kyiv’s ability to defend its skies may increasingly depend on how quickly additional Patriot systems and missiles arrive from the United States and its allies.