Ukraine’s president reaches out to Washington
During a press briefing held right after signing a defense agreement with Sweden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy disclosed that he had sent an urgent letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress. In the correspondence, he highlighted a severe shortfall in Ukraine’s air defense missile stocks and expressed hope for a swift response from American allies.
Zelenskyy mentioned that he had met with lawmakers and senators who back the proposals he directed at both Congress and the White House.
'I wrote to President Trump and Congress. I believe we need to move faster—we are pleading. Winter is coming. Diplomacy has not yet managed to stop Russia; for now, we are holding Russia back with our long-range sanctions,' the president stated. He voiced optimism about receiving replies from Congress and the White House.
Exploring missile production capabilities
Zelenskyy also revealed that he had discussed the possibility of securing a license to produce anti-ballistic missiles for air defense with former U.S. President Joe Biden, and has since continued that conversation with Donald Trump.
'I would very much like Ukrainian manufacturers to obtain a license to produce missiles for the Patriot system. That way, we could also help other countries that might need it,' he added.At the same time, the Ukrainian president stressed that Ukraine has not yet received a license to manufacture PAC-3 missiles, though he remains hopeful about obtaining one in the future.
According to Glavkom, President Zelenskyy’s urgent letter to Trump and the U.S. Congress warns of a critical shortage of air defense assets, underscoring how pressing this issue has become for Ukraine. This situation highlights the country’s growing need for U.S. support, especially as security conditions deteriorate. The push for missile production licenses also reflects Ukraine’s desire to bolster its defense capabilities and achieve greater military self-sufficiency. Closer cooperation with the United States in this area could significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to counter external threats.
As the urgency of Ukraine's air defense situation escalates, parallels can be drawn with previous appeals made by President Zelenskyy. In a similar context, he reached out to U.S. leaders regarding missile threats, emphasizing the dire need for support. To learn more about his ongoing efforts and the implications for Ukraine's defense strategy, read our detailed coverage on Zelenskyy's urgent appeal to Trump and Congress.