Ukraine Seeks US Patriot Missiles to Counter Escalating Russian Attacks

Ukraine is making an urgent push for U.S. anti-ballistic missiles to defend against a surge in Russian attacks, the country's envoy to Washington, Olha Stefanishyna, said on Thursday. The appeal comes as Kyiv seeks to bolster its defenses ahead of what could be a brutal winter amid the five-year war.

Urgent Defense Needs

Stefanishyna highlighted the country's vulnerability to ballistic missiles, which she said Russia is producing at a rapid pace. While Ukraine has been successful in defending against drones, it lacks an effective countermeasure for ballistic weapons. "The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable," Stefanishyna told reporters, noting recent attacks involved 30 to 40 ballistic missiles.

With winter approaching, the envoy stressed the immediate need for enhanced air defense capabilities. "He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that’s why... we need the missiles," she said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Discussions with Pentagon and Defense Firms

To address the capability gap, Ukraine is pursuing several avenues with the United States. According to Stefanishyna, discussions are underway with the Pentagon and major U.S. defense contractors. The options being explored include:

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• A license for Ukraine to produce Patriot PAC-3 missiles domestically, a process that could take from 12 months to five years.
• A long-term purchase agreement for PAC-3 missiles, potentially swapping places in the production queue with another buyer to expedite delivery.

Officials from Patriot system maker Raytheon (RTX) have already visited Ukraine, Stefanishyna said. She added that Lockheed Martin (LMT), which manufactures the PAC-3 interceptors, is also working to send a team of experts to the country.

Diplomatic Context

The plea for military hardware coincides with a renewed diplomatic effort. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday to discuss new air defenses and a potential path to ending the war. Stefanishyna said Zelenskiy repeated his offer to halt fighting at the current battle lines to serve as a starting point for talks.

A potential visit to Kyiv by U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner is also under consideration, though no date has been set. Separately, Stefanishyna confirmed she had offered to resign her post to return to Ukraine and address personal corruption allegations, but said President Zelenskiy had not accepted her resignation.