Zelensky to Ufoq News: If America sells us 10% of its Patriot stock, we will repel all of Russia’s ballistic attacks.

- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, during an interview with Ofoq News Network, on Wednesday, that his country possesses only a tenth of the interceptor missiles it urgently needs from the United States to confront the increasing Russian attacks with ballistic missiles. Zelensky added that he spends his days making “millions” of phone calls and making undisclosed deals with allies to get more of them.

Russian ballistic missile attacks have escalated rapidly in recent weeks, causing severe damage to the capital, Kiev, as Moscow takes advantage of a severe shortage - near zero - in Ukraine's stock of "Patriot" interceptor missiles. He pointed out that obtaining a tenth of the current US stockpile would be sufficient to stop all Russian attacks with ballistic missiles, while 5% would be enough to enable Ukraine to get through the winter.

He said: "This year we have two and a half fewer interceptor missiles than we had in 2025, while the number of ballistic missiles launched by Russia every month has doubled what it was previously." According to the United Nations, July was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022.

He added: "Attacks happen every night, and we face large-scale attacks four or five times a month... The people are truly heroic and steadfast, but they feel tired."

He continued: “If the United States sells us 5%, we will be able to get through the winter and save people’s lives. If they can sell us 10%, we will destroy all Russian ballistic missiles.”

There is a global shortage of these missiles due to the American war on Iran, as the United States and the Gulf states used dozens of them to confront Iranian attacks with missiles and low-cost drones. This shortage constitutes a particularly heavy burden on Ukraine, as on some nights cities appear completely unable to defend themselves against missile attacks launched by Moscow.

Zelensky provided a rare glimpse into his daily efforts to secure more interceptor missiles, efforts that include making deals whose details he prefers to keep secret. He said: “This is my daily reality: striving to move from 1% to 5%.

I have a few months and millions of phone calls... I'm trying to trade other things to get missiles...

I do some things that I can't even reveal. "That doesn't mean it's illegal, but I can't talk about it."

Zelensky added that doubts still remain about how US President Donald Trump's apparent commitment to allowing Ukraine to manufacture its own "Patriot" interceptor missiles will be translated into reality. Trump had stated - on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara - that he would allow Ukraine to obtain a license to manufacture these complex interceptor missiles locally, but days later he returned to express his uncertainty about the idea.

The manufacturers of Patriot systems sent officials to Kiev to discuss the proposal, but the results are still unclear. Right now, I don't even have 5% and there's no take-up.

This represents a great challenge for me, and one of the biggest challenges I have faced since the beginning of this war.” Zelensky indicated that he is appealing to the White House directly - through communications and letters - as well as indirectly through allies, to enhance assistance related to the “Patriot” system, but he refrained from going into the details of his recent talks with the Trump administration.

He confirmed a recent phone call with US Vice President J.D. Vance, but he refused to say whether Vance asked Ukraine to stop attacks on a Russian oil port in the Black Sea - attacks that harmed American companies and threatened to raise global energy prices - according to what the Financial Times reported. Kiev also presented new proposals for the Trump-led peace process, which has appeared faltering in recent months.

Zelensky refused to reveal details, but said: “We need more participation from the American side in the peace plan. I am grateful to President Trump’s team for their desire to move forward.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to end this war now, and there is not enough pressure on him at the present time.” He also rejected the idea of ​​Ukraine giving up the remaining lands in the Donbas region that Putin seeks to control, stressing that security guarantees remain essential for Kiev.

He added: “When Russia talks about this war, it talks about territory. The fundamental question is: Why does Putin not return again with one or two million additional soldiers after a long hiatus?

Zelensky expressed his agreement with some Western assessments that indicate that Putin may seek to escalate the war against NATO, and may attack the small Baltic states that are members of the alliance. He said: “Putin does not know how to end this war without a large-scale occupation or achieving a major victory for his society.

It is easier for him to choose a smaller country... as he will not care whether that country is a member of NATO or not; All he wants is a quick victory in which he is 100% guaranteed to win, whether that is occupation, destruction, or control.”