Zelensky Seeks 5% of US Patriot Missile Stockpile

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to sell Kyiv 5% of its Patriot missile stockpile, saying it would provide enough air-defense interceptors to protect the country through the winter.

In an interview with CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine currently has access to roughly 1% of US Patriot missile stocks. Increasing that to 5% would save lives and strengthen the country's defenses, while access to 10% would allow Ukraine to intercept virtually all Russian ballistic missiles, he said.

Ukraine's shortage of Patriot interceptors has worsened since the US diverted supplies during this year's conflict involving Israel and Iran. At the same time, Russia has stepped up its missile campaign, launching large-scale strikes on Kyiv roughly once a week. During one recent attack, none of the 28 ballistic missiles fired at the capital was intercepted.

The imbalance has continued to grow. Zelensky said Ukraine has about two-and-a-half times fewer air-defense missiles than it had a year ago, while Russia is now launching roughly twice as many ballistic missiles each month.

The Ukrainian Air Force also announced that it would no longer publish detailed statistics on the number of ballistic missiles launched by Russia and intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses.

(alarabiya, bak)