As Russian missile and drone attacks hammer Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelensky is making an urgent plea for more Patriot air defense systems. But the request has hit a wall—this time, not in Moscow, but in Washington.
Former U.S. President and leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has dismissed Zelensky’s call for 10 additional Patriot systems, signaling a shift away from material support and toward negotiations with Russia. The comments mark a potential rupture in the transatlantic approach to the war, especially as Ukraine faces its deadliest wave of attacks in over a year.
“He’s always looking to purchase missiles,” Trump said, brushing off Zelensky’s offer to fully fund the $15 billion purchase. “When you start a war, you got to know that you can win the war, right? You don’t start a war against somebody that’s 20 times your size, and then hope that people give you some missiles.”
The statement drew immediate backlash in Kyiv, where the war effort relies heavily on Western support—especially U.S.-made Patriot systems, which remain the most capable technology for intercepting Russia’s high-speed, precision-guided missiles.
Between March and April 2025, Russia escalated its aerial assault on Ukraine in what officials call a calculated campaign to overwhelm its defense infrastructure. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported nearly 70 ballistic missiles, 2,200 Shahed-type drones, and more than 6,000 guided aerial bombs launched in just six weeks.
On April 13, a devastating missile strike on the northeastern city of Sumy killed 34 civilians, including two children, and injured 119 others. The attack occurred during Palm Sunday services, turning a religious holiday into a scene of carnage. Just over a week earlier, on April 4, Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih was similarly targeted. That strike killed 20 people, nine of them children.
“The Russians are trying to break us by killing our children and destroying our homes,” said Mayor Oleksandr Vilkul of Kryvyi Rih. “They’re not just attacking military targets; they’re targeting our will to survive.”
Ukraine’s air defense network is buckling under the sheer volume of Russian attacks. The six Patriot batteries currently deployed are positioned to protect key urban centers and energy infrastructure, but they are insufficient against a coordinated missile blitz that can involve dozens of threats launched simultaneously.
Each Patriot system, developed by Raytheon and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, can intercept incoming missiles across a wide radius. Crucially, they are among the few systems capable of shooting down Russia’s advanced weapons, including the hypersonic Kinzhal and Iskander-M missiles.
Ukraine has formally requested 10 additional Patriot batteries. At roughly $1.5 billion each, the cost totals around $15 billion—an amount Zelensky says Ukraine is ready to pay in full. “We will find the money and pay for everything,” Zelensky told CBS News in a recent interview. “But we need the systems now, not years from now.”
Trump’s rejection stems from a fundamentally different vision for ending the war. Favoring diplomacy over deterrence, Trump has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and direct negotiations with Russia. He believes continued U.S. military aid only prolongs the conflict.
“I want peace,” Trump said at a campaign rally in Florida. “Not another endless war on the other side of the world that we pay for with our money and our weapons.”
His stance reflects a growing segment of American voters—particularly within the Republican base—who are skeptical of continued aid to Ukraine. It also stands in contrast to the Biden administration’s policy, which has consistently supplied Ukraine with military equipment and training since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.
However, even under Biden, the U.S. has faced growing limitations. The Pentagon has acknowledged that Patriot system inventories are tight, with existing production already allocated to allies like Poland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
U.S. defense officials argue that fulfilling Ukraine’s request could weaken American and allied readiness. The production of Patriot batteries is a complex, multi-year process. Even if Washington approved Ukraine’s request today, new systems likely wouldn’t be ready until 2027 or later.
In response, Zelensky proposed a bold alternative: granting Ukraine the license to manufacture Patriots and their missiles domestically. Yet this idea has so far stalled. The technology behind the system is highly classified, and licensing agreements are tied up in political, legal, and security hurdles.
“This isn’t just a question of money,” said Andriy Zahorodniuk, former Ukrainian defense minister. “It’s about trust, technology transfer, and long-term security arrangements that aren’t in place.”
With American support uncertain, Ukraine is intensifying its outreach to European allies. On April 14, Foreign Minister Sybiha urged EU member states to step up, citing the attacks on Sumy and Kryvyi Rih as urgent calls for help.
Germany and France have expressed willingness to support Ukraine’s domestic defense industry, including its fledgling missile development program introduced earlier this year. Some NATO countries, like Poland, are reportedly exploring ways to reallocate orders of Patriots or share inventory. However, most are hesitant, fearing the risk of depleting their own defenses amid growing regional instability.
Meanwhile, NATO’s broader plan to purchase 1,000 Patriot missiles and scale production in Europe could eventually provide relief—but not for several years. Defense analysts estimate that any European production surge won’t reach meaningful output until 2027–2028.
Ukraine isn’t sitting idle. Several local defense companies are working on short-range air defense systems, drone interceptors, and electronic countermeasures. Though cheaper and faster to produce, these alternatives lack the reach and reliability of the Patriot.
“Think of these systems as gap-fillers,” said military analyst Hanna Shelest. “They can protect small zones or specific infrastructure, but they won’t stop a swarm of hypersonic missiles or 20 drones flying in at once.”
Still, these domestic innovations are gaining traction. Collaborative projects with European manufacturers aim to fast-track deployment of hybrid systems combining Western technology and Ukrainian engineering.
“Ukraine is innovating out of necessity,” said Shelest. “They don’t have the luxury of waiting for the perfect solution.”
Despite these efforts, Ukraine’s air defense inventory is dwindling. Officials warn that without immediate resupply, the country may soon face a catastrophic failure in its defense grid.
The Biden administration’s delivery of three Patriot systems in 2023 provided a brief reprieve, but supplies of interceptor missiles are running low. Other systems, such as the German-made IRIS-T and U.S. NASAMS, offer some coverage but can’t replace the Patriots’ wide-area capabilities.
Ukrainian Air Force officials say that in several recent attacks, they were forced to prioritize targets, letting some missiles through due to lack of available interceptors.
“If we had more Patriots, Sumy might have been spared,” one Ukrainian defense official said on condition of anonymity. “We’re having to make impossible choices.”
Trump’s latest comments have raised alarm among U.S. allies and drawn criticism from Ukrainian officials who see his stance as both morally and strategically flawed.
In an appeal laden with frustration and urgency, Zelensky invited Trump to visit Ukraine and witness the devastation firsthand. “Come to Sumy, come to Kryvyi Rih,” he said. “Look the mothers of those children in the eye and tell them why you won’t help.”
Analysts say the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election could dramatically reshape Ukraine’s future. If Trump returns to office and cuts military support, Ukraine would be forced to rely almost entirely on Europe and its domestic industry—neither of which can replace U.S. capacity in the short term.
As a potential Russian offensive looms in May, Ukraine’s strategic choices are narrowing. The current rate of Russian attacks, if sustained, could collapse parts of the country’s critical infrastructure by summer. Power stations, hospitals, and transport hubs are already under near-daily threat.
European governments are reviewing options to expedite deliveries of air defense systems and provide emergency funding. Still, there’s growing acknowledgment that a security vacuum is emerging—and Ukraine stands at its center.
“Without a significant increase in advanced air defense systems, we are going to see more cities like Sumy and Kryvyi Rih,” said Sybiha. “This is not just about Ukraine. This is about the future of European security.”
Zelensky’s appeal for Patriots is not just about military hardware—it’s a test of Western resolve. The choice is stark: either arm Ukraine with the means to defend itself or push it toward a dangerous dependency on piecemeal support and uncertain ceasefire deals.
For now, the Patriots remain out of reach. But the war shows no sign of slowing down. What Ukraine lacks in firepower, it is trying to make up with resilience, ingenuity, and diplomacy.
