Amid a critical shortage of air defense assets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a joint press conference with Serbian leader Aleksandar Vučić, voiced a firm stance regarding the supply of interceptor missiles. The head of state stated directly that key NATO partners, specifically Germany and Poland, hold significant stockpiles of missiles for Patriot systems that could be transferred to Kyiv to counter Russian attacks.
Call to Germany and Poland: 'These are the ones who can help significantly'
During his speech on August 8, 2026, Zelenskyy avoided diplomatic language to emphasize the severity of the situation. 'Who has (missiles)? The Germans have them, the Poles have them. These are the ones who can help significantly,' RBC-Ukraine quotes the President. The Ukrainian leader noted that while gratitude is owed for assistance already rendered, the current situation demands concrete actions to save civilian lives. According to him, Poland and Germany have indeed helped previously, but the current crisis requires the mobilization of existing reserves.
Air defense situation: drop in supplies and night attack
Zelenskyy's statements came against the backdrop of a failed attempt by Ukrainian air defense forces to intercept a night attack by Russian ballistic missiles. The President linked this incident directly to the lack of ammunition for Patriot systems. He stated that the volume of interceptor missile supplies from Western partners has dropped threefold compared to 2025 figures. This sharp decline in supplies, Kyiv believes, jeopardizes the security of major cities and critical infrastructure.
Global context: who is not helping and why
In addition to Germany and Poland, Zelenskyy mentioned that the Netherlands and Nordic countries are providing support, though he did not specify exact figures. At the same time, he outlined the reasons for the inaction of other nations. South Korea and Japan, possessing advanced technologies, cannot supply weapons due to domestic legislative restrictions. The President also mentioned Ukraine's desire to purchase air defense systems from Israel, but currently, such an opportunity is absent. Zelenskyy expressed concern that the reduction in supplies might be linked to Western attempts to pressure Kyiv into making concessions in negotiations.
Contradictory data
There is a discrepancy in the information space between statements of shortage and new agreements. On one hand, Zelenskyy claims a critical shortage of missiles and a threefold drop in supplies, noting that partners have stockpiles that are not being transferred. On the other hand, on the same day, news emerged of an agreement between Ukraine and the US regarding monthly supplies of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. Experts note that while the US agreement is a positive signal, it may not cover the current volume of losses and the need to intercept ballistic missiles, for which Zelenskyy says partners have reserves but are not rushing to allocate them.
