Zelenskyy's 'Patriot' Act: Decoding The Air Defence Support Plea Amid Russia War
Zelenskyy's 'Patriot' Act: Decoding The Air Defence Support Plea Amid Russia War Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 15:43 IST As Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy's 'Patriot' Act: Decoding The Air Defence Support Plea Amid Russia War Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 15:43 IST As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heads to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey to pressure Western allies for help, a look at his urgency Rapid Read Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (IMAGE: AFP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday renewed his appeal for enhanced air defence support, urging the United States to grant Ukraine licences to produce Patriot missile systems domestically, saying it would significantly strengthen the country’s ability to protect lives amid continued Russian missile attacks. As Zelenskyy heads to the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, to pressure Western allies for help, here’s a look at why the appeal is urgent WHAT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY SAID In a post shared on X, Zelenskyy said Ukrainian air defence forces had successfully intercepted all six Kalibr cruise missiles and 31 of the 33 cruise missiles launched by Russia overnight. “All six Kalibr missiles were shot down last night, and 31 out of 33 cruise missiles were intercepted, meaning whenever the necessary capabilities are available, our warriors deliver truly high interception rates," he said.
Zelenskyy, however, stressed that Ukraine continued to face difficulties in countering ballistic missile attacks because of a shortage of interceptor missiles. “That is the only explanation for the problem with ballistic missiles – an insufficient number of interceptors. This is especially true for Patriots," he said. Calling for greater cooperation with the US, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was capable of manufacturing Patriot systems if granted the required licences. “We have long made the case that we are capable of producing such defensive weapons ourselves. If Ukraine were granted U.S. licenses to produce Patriots, our own production would be sufficient both to protect Ukraine and to help partners in need," he said. He added that securing additional air defence missiles remained Kyiv’s foremost priority. “We are in contact with everyone around the world who can provide air defense missiles now. This is our top priority," Zelenskyy said. According to Zelenskyy, Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 attack drones during the assault, damaging more than 10 locations across the Ukrainian capital, including residential buildings. He said Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted drones and cruise missiles but lacked sufficient interceptor missiles to stop Russian ballistic missiles.
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