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🇩🇰 Denmark /Conflict & Security

Zelenskyy: Ukraine needs 10 times more Patriot missiles

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine possesses only one-tenth of the Patriot missiles needed to intercept all Russian ballistic missiles.
  • Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine has two and a half times fewer missiles this year compared to last year, while Russia has doubled its monthly ballistic missile production.
  • He emphasized the critical need for US support, suggesting that even a small percentage of US Patriot missiles could save lives and neutralize Russian threats.

Ukraine possesses only a tenth of the Patriot missiles it requires to defend against all Russian ballistic missile attacks, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a recent interview with CNN.

If the USA sells us five percent, we will get through the winter and save people's lives. If they sell us ten percent, we will be able to destroy all of Russia's ballistic missiles.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy quantifies Ukraine's need for US-supplied Patriot missiles.

"If the USA sells us five percent, we will get through the winter and save people's lives. If they sell us ten percent, we will be able to destroy all of Russia's ballistic missiles," Zelenskyy explained. He added that Ukraine currently has only one percent of what it needs.

Zelenskyy also revealed that Ukraine has received two and a half times fewer missiles this year compared to the previous year. In contrast, he noted that Russia's monthly production of ballistic missiles has doubled. He described the nightly attacks as "terrible," acknowledging the resilience of the Ukrainian people but also their fatigue.

I have one percent.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy describes the current availability of necessary missiles.

Concerns remain regarding the implementation of a promise by US President Donald Trump to allow Ukraine to produce its own Patriot missiles. Ballistic missiles are significantly more challenging to intercept than cruise missiles or drones due to their higher speed and steep trajectory. The Patriot system is considered the most effective defense against them, yet Ukraine faces an acute shortage of ammunition for these systems, a situation exacerbated since the US and Israel engaged in conflict with Iran in February.

Ukraine has two and a half times fewer missiles than we had last year.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyZelenskyy highlights the reduction in missile supply to Ukraine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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