---
title: "Zelenskyy on the Air Defense Crisis: The US Makes 60 Missiles a Month, Russia Makes Hundreds. Ukraine Demands Licenses for Patriots"
description: "Zelenskyy revealed shocking statistics: the US produces only 60 anti-aircraft missiles a month, which is critically low for defense. The President urged Washington to issue licenses for Patriot production in Ukraine while Russia is ramping up its arsenals. 🇺🇸🇺🇦🚀"
date: 2026-06-01T09:55:06.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-on-the-air-defense-crisis-the-us-makes-60-missiles-a-month-russia-makes-hundreds-ukraine-demands-licenses-for-patriots
tags: []
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Zelenskyy on the Air Defense Crisis: The US Makes 60 Missiles a Month, Russia Makes Hundreds. Ukraine Demands Licenses for Patriots

![Patriot missile on a launcher: symbol of Ukraine's air defense shortage](https://xab.info/media/2026/06/01/zeleny-krizis-pvo-ssha-delat-60-raket-v-mesyats-a-rossiya-sotni-ukraina-trebuget-licenziy-na-patriot/zeleny-krizis-pvo-ssha-delat-60-raket-v-mesyats-a-rossiya-sotni-ukraina-trebuget-licenziy-na-patriot-1.webp)

In an interview with CBS News published on May 31, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced alarming figures regarding the production of anti-aircraft missiles in the United States. According to him, American factories produce only 60–65 anti-aircraft missiles per month.

The head of state emphasized that such volumes are categorically insufficient to counter modern threats, especially against the backdrop of Russia actively ramping up its own production of ballistic missiles.

### «This is negligible compared to the challenges»

Zelenskyy did not hide the scale of the problem, calling the current production figures «negligible» compared to the real needs of defense. He noted that this information is not secret and is well known to the Russian command.

«We need to expand production», — stated the Ukrainian leader, pointing to the acute need to increase the pace of air defense system production.

### Patriot Licenses: The Plan for the Future

A key demand from Kyiv remains obtaining licenses from the United States to produce Patriot system missiles. Zelenskyy recalled that he voiced this request to the previous US administration and is now addressing it to the current leadership of the country.

Ukraine is ready to take on the task of ramping up the production of these missiles independently. According to the President, this decision will have strategic significance not only for Ukraine but also for other allies, including countries in the Middle East, to whom the US may provide assistance.

«We can increase the production of Patriot missiles. This will help us. It will help the Middle East and any other country that the United States decides to help», — noted Zelenskyy.

At the same time, he added that until Europe begins to mass-produce its own anti-aircraft defense systems, Ukraine will critically need support from the United States.

### Context: Mass Attacks and New Threats

The President's words came against the backdrop of an escalation of the situation on the front. On May 24, Russia carried out a massive attack on Kyiv, deploying dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones, which led to significant destruction in the capital. The very next day, Moscow announced new «systemic strikes» against the Ukrainian capital.

In this connection, this week Zelenskyy sent a letter to US President Donald Trump and Congress, in which he detailed the problem of the shortage of air defense means. This was reported by the President's communications advisor, Dmytro Lytvyn.

### Production in Poland

The situation requires urgent solutions. According to available data, the US has preliminarily agreed to the possibility of producing Patriot missiles on the territory of Poland, which could be an important step in solving the problem of the shortage of air defense means for Ukraine and other allied countries.