The situation with Ukraine's air defense has reached a critical point. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a meeting with the Armed Forces command and representatives of the security services, presented alarming statistics: supplies of air defense missiles from Western partners have decreased threefold compared to 2025 figures.
Meeting at the President's Office: Report on Critical Needs
The meeting was held with an expanded roster. Key figures in Ukraine's defense — Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyy, Chief of the General Staff Ihor Skibiuk, and Acting Minister of Defense Yevhen Khmara — reported to the head of state on the current situation at the front. Special attention was paid to the shortage of ammunition and the need to protect critical infrastructure.
Zelenskyy emphasized that this is not a temporary lull, but a systemic reduction in supplies throughout the first half of 2026. At the same time, the President noted the paradoxical nature of the situation: partners have missiles, yet they are not arriving in the required volumes.
Technical Shortage and Political Decisions
The lack of interceptors is already having fatal consequences. During the night of the current day, Ukrainian air defense forces were unable to fully repel a massive Russian ballistic attack. According to sources, the main reason was the absence of missiles for Patriot systems.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy pointed to the need for urgent political decisions. In his words, not only an acceleration of production processes is required, but also the localization of arms production directly in Ukraine. The President called on partners to stop delaying anti-ballistic measures, emphasizing that the existence of stockpiles should not become an obstacle to assistance.
US Position and Prospects for Cooperation
The international context is exacerbated by reports regarding Washington's stance. Media reports state that US President Donald Trump refused to allocate interceptor missiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine, despite Zelenskyy's personal request. This decision jeopardizes the effectiveness of Ukraine's defense system against high-precision weapons.
Nevertheless, official Kyiv states that dialogue continues. The President's Office noted that Ukraine and the US continue to implement previously reached agreements. The parties are preparing documentation for new projects in the field of missile armament, however, the question of urgent interceptor supplies remains open and acute.
