Zelenskyy Warns Trump Ukraine Faces Critical Air-Defense Missile Shortage

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reportedly warned U.S. President Donald Trump that Ukraine is facing a critical shortage of air-defense missiles, especially the interceptors needed to stop Russian ballistic missiles.

The Kyiv Independent reported that it had seen a letter from Zelenskyy to Trump. In the letter, Zelenskyy said Ukraine relies on its partners for missile defense and “almost exclusively” on the United States when it comes to defending against ballistic missiles.

“The current pace of deliveries through the PURL program is no longer keeping up with the reality of the threat we face,” the letter says, according to the Kyiv Independent.

What Zelenskyy is asking for

The request is not a general plea for any weapons. It is focused on air-defense systems and missiles that can intercept ballistic threats, especially Patriot PAC-3 interceptors and additional systems.

Kyiv Post, citing the Kyiv Independent and Ukrainian reporting, said Ukraine’s Presidential Office later confirmed that Zelenskyy had sent the appeal to both Trump and the U.S. Congress. Presidential adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said the recipients were “the president of the United States and Congress.”

That confirmation matters because the original report was based on a letter seen by the Kyiv Independent. The follow-up from Kyiv gives the claim stronger footing: the appeal itself is real, while exact supply levels remain sensitive and not fully public.

Why the shortage is so urgent

Russia has increased large missile and drone attacks on Ukraine while also threatening new strikes on Kyiv. The Kyiv Independent report said Ukrainian officials fear limited Patriot interceptors and other Western-supplied systems may not withstand continued bombardments.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 90 missiles and 600 drones in a major overnight assault on May 24, according to the Kyiv Independent. Reuters also reported that Kyiv intercepted 11 of 30 ballistic missiles in the latest strike context, underlining why anti-ballistic systems are the narrowest bottleneck.

The Patriot problem

Patriot systems are among Ukraine’s most important tools against Russian ballistic missiles. AP has reported that Zelenskyy says more Patriots have reached Ukraine and are being put into operation, but that more systems are still needed to protect cities and infrastructure.

The problem is not only launchers. Ukraine also needs interceptor missiles. Production limits, allied stockpile concerns and delivery timelines mean a system can become less useful if the missiles needed to fire from it are scarce.

What is confirmed and what is not

Confirmed: Ukraine is asking the U.S. and Congress for more air-defense support, with a focus on Patriot PAC-3 missiles and systems. Kyiv’s own officials have confirmed letters were sent.

Reported: the Kyiv Independent says the letter warned of worsening shortages and quoted Zelenskyy saying Ukraine relies almost exclusively on the U.S. for ballistic-missile defense.

Not public: Ukraine’s exact remaining Patriot interceptor stockpile. That number is a military secret and should not be treated as confirmed from open sources.

NoDechev rating: verified appeal, sensitive inventory. Zelenskyy’s warning to Trump and Congress is reported and later confirmed in substance by Kyiv; exact missile stock levels remain undisclosed.