Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s deficit of Patriot missiles could not be more severe, while US Vice President JD Vance described halting aid to Ukraine as «one of the proudest» actions taken by the Trump administration.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged during a trip to Germany that Ukraine is grappling with a severe shortage of Patriot air defence missiles, highlighting the critical nature of the deficit.
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«The shortage is at its maximum severity; it cannot deteriorate further,» Zelenskyy told the German broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday.
He also recognized that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is affecting Ukraine by diminishing Kyiv’s prospects for acquiring military support.
Patriot missiles, produced exclusively in the US, continue to represent Ukraine’s primary defence against Russian ballistic missile threats at this stage.
Ukraine is working on developing a nationally produced anti-ballistic air defence system. Fire Point, a Ukrainian arms manufacturer, recently announced progress on its own system, aiming for completion next year. The company seeks collaboration with European allies in areas such as radar, targeting, and communication technologies.
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy emphasized that developing a domestic anti-ballistic system remains a top strategic goal for the country.
“Creating an indigenous air defence capable of countering ballistic threats is an absolute priority,” he affirmed.
Nevertheless, Ukraine continues to depend on Western supplies, particularly US-manufactured anti-ballistic missiles.
European countries supplied most of the military aid to Ukraine in 2025, which included the procurement of key Patriot interceptors alongside other US-made armaments.
At a Turning Point USA event in Athens, Georgia, on Tuesday, US Vice President JD Vance expressed pride in Washington’s decision to cease funding Ukraine amid Russia’s large-scale conflict.
«I firmly believe, and one of the actions I take greatest pride in from this administration, is that we have communicated to Europe: if you wish to purchase weapons, you may, but the US will no longer procure and send arms to Ukraine,» Vance stated.
Within the Trump administration, the White House’s second-in-command has been among the most outspoken critics of providing aid to Ukraine.