Ukraine could 'destroy all the Russians’ ballistic missiles' if US sells 10% of Patriot missile supply to Kyiv, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky made a claim on August 12 that Ukraine possesses the capability to eliminate all Russian ballistic missiles if the United States were to distribute 10% of its Patriot interceptor missile inventory to Ukraine. During a conversation with CNN, Zelensky expressed his plea to American partners, requesting that they sell 5% of their existing missile stock to Ukraine.

He stated that with this allocation, Ukraine would not only survive the winter but also protect civilians from harm. If the U.S. were willing to contribute 10%, Zelensky suggested that Ukraine could fully neutralize Russian ballistic missiles. This request surfaces as Ukraine faces a significant deficit in air defense supplies. In July, Ukraine managed to intercept just 29 out of the 195 ballistic missiles launched by Russia, making it the deadliest month since the war escalated in 2022, as per the UN.

Zelensky mentioned that currently, Ukraine has only secured 1% of U.S. interceptor missiles. The Ukrainian government has been urging the White House to increase the sales of air defense missiles to counter Russian strikes that target civilian and energy infrastructure, which has led to escalating tensions. The United States itself is reportedly facing a shortage of missiles due to the ongoing conflict in Iran depleting its stockpiles.

In response, U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged the need for missiles as well, on August 6. Although Kyiv has been striving to establish a deal with Washington for the co-production of Patriot interceptor missiles, this collaboration seems unlikely to be finalized before the winter. Russian ballistic missile stockpiles continue to be substantial, according to Zelensky.

He stated that Russia produces twice as many ballistic missiles per month compared to previous years, with some models exceeding target outputs by 10-20%. Ukrainian intelligence reports confirm that Russia's monthly production of these key missiles is running above expectations. In the absence of additional missile procurement, Ukraine is currently focusing on developing its own ballistic and anti-ballistic missile systems, with these weapons anticipated to be operational by this fall.

During his interview with CNN, Zelensky detailed his ongoing negotiations with various allies to secure more missiles. He revealed that he attempts to offer something in return for the missiles.