Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the US to increase its support for interceptor missiles used by Patriot air defense systems so that his country can get through the winter months.
Zelenskyy said he had conveyed his request through phone calls and messages to the White House, as well as through Ukraine’s allies. The Ukrainian leader said the number of interceptor missiles available to Ukraine this year was two and a half times lower than the previous year.
Phone call with Vance
Zelenskyy confirmed that he had spoken by phone with US Vice President J. D. Vance shortly before. He did not clarify whether Vance had asked Ukraine to stop attacks targeting a Russian oil port on the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian leader said there was uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump’s promise to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles using its own capabilities would be implemented.
Zelenskyy claimed that Russia was launching twice as many ballistic missiles each month as it had in the past. Citing United Nations data, Zelenskyy also said July had been the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022.
Peace plan and Donbas
Zelenskyy said they had submitted new proposals for the peace process led by Trump and called for greater US involvement in the plan. Zelenskyy argued that Vladimir Putin did not want to end the war and that pressure on Russia remained insufficient.
Rejecting the idea of giving up the territory in Donbas that remains under Ukraine’s control, Zelenskyy stressed that security guarantees were of fundamental importance to Kyiv.