Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress for additional American-made air defense systems and interceptor missiles as Russia intensifies ballistic missile strikes against Ukraine, according to statements from Kyiv and reporting by the Associated Press.
The request comes amid a broader escalation in aerial warfare more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said the country’s existing air defense capacity is struggling to keep pace with increasingly frequent missile barrages targeting major cities and infrastructure.
In a letter obtained by the Associated Press, Zelenskyy urged Washington to provide more Patriot PAC-3 missiles and related systems, warning that current deliveries are falling behind operational needs. He said Ukraine remains heavily dependent on the United States for anti-ballistic missile capabilities because it cannot yet manufacture comparable systems domestically.
The Ukrainian leader stated that while the country has improved its drone interception rate to above 90%, missile defense remains a critical vulnerability. He also noted that Ukrainian specialists have assisted partners in the Gulf region and at U.S. military facilities in the Middle East with strengthening air defense operations.
Russian Attacks Increase Pressure on Defenses
Kyiv’s appeal followed a recent wave of large-scale Russian aerial assaults involving missiles and drones aimed at overwhelming Ukrainian defensive systems. Official statements cited by international reporting said Russia launched nearly 90 missiles alongside hundreds of drones during attacks over the previous weekend.
Zelenskyy described the sight of Patriot systems without available interceptors as especially damaging for a country defending itself against sustained missile attacks. According to Reuters, the Ukrainian president warned that global security pressures, including conflict involving Iran, are placing additional strain on U.S. stockpiles and slowing deliveries.
Washington had not publicly responded to the request at the time of reporting.
Russia Expands Civilian Role in Drone Defense
At the same time, Russian lawmakers approved draft legislation that would allow bank employees to participate in defending facilities against Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Russian parliamentary reporting cited by AP.
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The proposal would permit banks to install electronic jamming systems and train selected personnel to intercept drones targeting financial institutions and other infrastructure. The legislation still requires approval from Russia’s Federation Council and President Vladimir Putin before taking effect.
Russian authorities have increasingly encouraged civilian institutions and businesses to support defensive measures as Ukrainian long-range drone strikes reach deeper into Russian territory. Western analysts cited in the AP report said the move may reflect mounting pressure on Russia’s conventional air defense systems.
Conflict Shows Limited Front-Line Movement
Despite intensified attacks from both sides, neither Russia nor Ukraine has made major advances along the approximately 780-mile front line, according to international reporting.
The head of Britain’s intelligence agency GCHQ, Anne Keast-Butler, also stated Wednesday that Russia was “going backwards on the battlefield,” while citing data indicating heavy Russian military losses since the conflict began. Those claims could not be independently verified within the available reporting.
The latest developments highlight the growing strategic importance of air defense systems in the war, as both Moscow and Kyiv continue expanding the use of drones and missile technology in a conflict that increasingly stretches beyond traditional front-line combat.
