Against the backdrop of the approaching summit in Turkey, where negotiations between the leaders of Ukraine and the US are scheduled to take place, Kyiv has formulated a key request to Washington. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that the main topic of the meeting will be the supply of Patriot air defense missile systems. According to the Ukrainian leader, the task is singular — to find a mechanism for obtaining additional missiles for these systems as quickly as possible.
"An urgent issue" for negotiations
Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not hide the priorities of the upcoming dialogue. Speaking to journalists, he emphasized that, despite the wide range of topics to be discussed with the American president, the air defense issue remains critical. "This is the most important issue we will discuss. For us, it is an urgent issue," declared the head of the Ukrainian state.
Kyiv's position was voiced earlier as well. Meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy had already noted the need to increase the volume of Patriot system supplies. Now, this request is transforming into a specific appeal to the US administration, which will be voiced personally during the negotiations.
Missile shortage and allies' position
The relevance of the topic is confirmed by the current situation on the front and the reaction of Ukraine's partners. The situation with ammunition for intercepting Russian ballistic missiles remains tense. Advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Serhiy "Flash" Beskrestnov openly stated that at the moment, the Armed Forces of Ukraine effectively have no missiles to intercept ballistic threats.
The expert explained the situation by noting that countries bordering Russia also feel the threat and are not in a hurry to share their own reserves. In particular, Beskrestnov pointed to Germany's caution. However, there are exceptions: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has already confirmed that Warsaw has transferred missiles for Patriot to Kyiv to strengthen air defense.
At the same time, other allies are signaling that they have saturated their obligations. The Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands officially stated that Amsterdam has exhausted its possibilities for further direct military support. In response to questions about missiles for Patriot, the department noted that the country has already "reached the limit of its capabilities".
Expectations from the summit
Thus, at the summit in Turkey, Zelenskyy will be looking for a solution to the ammunition shortage problem, addressing the US directly. In conditions where European partners have either already transferred their reserves or announced the impossibility of further assistance, Washington remains the key player capable of resolving the issue of missile supplies to protect the sky of Ukraine.
