Key facts
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described the current production levels of missile defense systems as 'absurd'.
- He stated that Ukraine possesses the knowledge to produce necessary weapons and could assist allies if granted U.S. licenses for Patriot systems.
- The U.S. reportedly produces only 60-65 anti-ballistic missiles per month, which is insufficient for current global security challenges.
- Zelenskiy urged an expansion of production and requested U.S. licenses for Patriot missile manufacturing.
- He appealed to Western backers to expedite air defense deliveries and increase weapons production.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has criticized the global shortage of missile defense systems, calling it 'absurd' that production cannot meet the demand to protect against Russian ballistic missile attacks. In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy stated that in the modern world, production has not been scaled up to the level required to defend against 'ballistic terror.'
He noted that Ukraine possesses the necessary knowledge to produce these weapons and suggested that obtaining U.S. licenses to manufacture Patriot systems would enable Ukraine's production to be sufficient not only for its own defense but also to assist allies. According to Zelenskiy, the United States produces only 60-65 anti-ballistic missiles per month, a volume he deems insufficient for current security challenges, especially as Russia expands its own missile production.
Zelenskiy reiterated his request to both the previous and current U.S. administrations for licenses to produce Patriot missiles, emphasizing Ukraine's readiness to ramp up production. He pointed out that the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Iran has contributed to a global shortage of anti-ballistic defense systems. Earlier, in late May 2026, Poland received preliminary approval for localized Patriot missile production, while Ukraine has yet to make significant progress on a similar request. The Pentagon had quadrupled its procurement of Patriot missiles in July 2025, allocating over $1.3 billion, though experts cautioned that large-scale production expansion takes time.
Speaking at a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Zelenskiy urged Western backers to accelerate air defense deliveries and boost weapons production, highlighting the effectiveness of U.S.-made Patriot systems in deterring Russian missile strikes. He also appealed for countries to purchase weapons directly from Ukraine, citing significant untapped industrial capacity that requires financing, with a noted funding gap of approximately $18 billion for weapons procurement.