Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated today that at a meeting in the White House on Tuesday, he requested “urgent winter assistance” from U.S. President Donald Trump—specifically, 300 interceptor missiles for the American Patriot air defense systems—to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from Russian attacks, according to the American website Axios.
Without new deliveries before winter, Russian attacks could destroy power plants, leave millions of Ukrainians without heating, and cause a humanitarian crisis, he said.
Zelensky said that Ukraine’s stockpiles of these missiles are nearly depleted, making Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian ballistic missiles.
He said that Trump agreed to continue preparations for a licensing agreement under which Ukraine would produce Patriot missiles, thereby reducing dependence on American stockpiles.
Zelensky added that Trump promised the U.S. would try to help Kyiv, even though American stockpiles are strained by the war with Iran.
After the meeting at the White House on Tuesday, the Ukrainian president met with representatives of American companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon—the manufacturers of Patriot missiles. They also discussed adapting Ukrainian ballistic missiles into interceptor missiles, which is considered a “faster and cheaper” solution.
Zelensky said that Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russia’s oil and logistics infrastructure have improved his relationship with Trump, which he described as “much better and more constructive” than before.
The Ukrainian president said that U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff could come to Kyiv in the next two weeks to discuss a possible resumption of peace talks, but he believes it is unlikely that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be ready to accept a ceasefire.
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