Zelenskyy asks the U.S. for Patriot missiles to protect Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lamented the lack of Patriot missiles in Ukraine during an interview with CNN. He made an urgent request for the U.S. to provide Ukraine with five percent of its stock of PAC-3 interceptors. According to Zelenskyy, these missiles are crucial for protecting the Ukrainian civilian population from ongoing Russian attacks.

According to his statements, Ukraine currently has only one percent of the required missiles, which limits the effectiveness of its defense measures. Zelenskyy emphasized that acquiring five percent of these missiles would enable Ukraine to survive the winter and save lives. This reinforces his earlier comments about the need for improved military support for the country.

The request comes at a time when the UN is reporting a significant increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine. July 2023 recorded the highest number of deaths since May 2022, highlighting the urgency of Zelenskyy's appeal.