Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed directly to Donald Trump and the US Congress for more air defence munitions, including Patriot missiles, after Russia struck Ukraine with another wave of ballistic missiles. The Ukrainian president said Moscow’s missile capability remains Vladimir Putin’s “last major advantage on the battlefield” and argued that neutralising it would increase pressure on Russia to negotiate.
A direct appeal to Washington
Zelenskyy’s request underlines Ukraine’s continued dependence on US-made Patriot systems to defend cities, energy infrastructure and military targets from ballistic attacks. Kyiv says it can intercept most drones, but ballistic missiles remain far harder to stop without advanced Western systems and sufficient interceptor stocks.
Russia’s latest strike
According to Ukraine’s air force, Russia used 30 ballistic missiles in a major strike on Sunday, of which only 11 were shot down. Zelenskyy also said Moscow launched two nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles, a weapon designed to signal escalation and complicate Ukraine’s air defence calculations.
The Patriot problem
Patriot missiles have become one of Ukraine’s most important defensive assets, but supply remains limited. Ukraine wants more systems, more interceptors and faster delivery schedules. The shortage is not only military, but strategic: without enough air defence, Russia can continue using missile barrages to damage infrastructure and pressure civilian morale.
A negotiation argument
Zelenskyy’s message to Washington is that stronger air defence could change the diplomatic equation. If Russia loses its ability to strike Ukrainian cities with relative impunity, Kyiv believes Moscow would have fewer tools to prolong the war and more reason to enter serious negotiations.
A critical decision for the US
The appeal places Trump and Congress at the centre of Ukraine’s next phase of defence. For Washington, the question is whether additional Patriot support is seen as escalation, deterrence or a necessary investment in European security. For Ukraine, the answer is more immediate: without more interceptors, the cost of every Russian missile wave will continue to rise.
Newshub Editorial in Europe – 28 May 2026
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