Zelenskyy: 10% of US Patriot interceptor stock could stop all Russian ballistic missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United States to provide more interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems, warning that a severe shortage is allowing Russian ballistic missile attacks to inflict escalating casualties.

Zelenskyy stated in an interview with CNN that if Ukraine could obtain just 10% of the current US stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles, it would be sufficient to thwart all of Russia's ballistic missile assaults. Even 5% would help Ukraine endure the winter, he added, but the country currently has only 1% of the required missiles.

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We have 2.5 times fewer interceptors this year than in 2025, but Russia has twice as many ballistic missiles per month as before. There are attacks every night, and 4 or 5 large-scale attacks every month... These are terrible nights, and people are truly heroic and resilient, but they are truly tired.

"We have 2.5 times fewer interceptors this year than in 2025, but Russia has twice as many ballistic missiles per month as before," Zelenskyy said. "There are attacks every night, and 4 or 5 large-scale attacks every month... These are terrible nights, and people are truly heroic and resilient, but they are truly tired."

He also voiced some doubt about the feasibility of a promise made by U.S. President Donald Trump to allow Ukraine to develop its own Patriot interceptor missiles. Trump had indicated in July that he would grant Ukraine a license for domestic production, but later expressed uncertainty about the idea. While manufacturers have discussed the matter in Kyiv, no concrete progress has been made.

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If Ukraine could obtain just 10% of the current US stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles, it would be sufficient to thwart all of Russia's ballistic missile assaults. Even 5% would help Ukraine endure the winter, but the country currently has only 1% of the required missiles.