Zelensky Urges EU to Deliver 300 Patriot Missiles as Ukraine’s Stocks Run Dry
Zelensky urged EU leaders to provide 300 Patriot interceptors and €70 billion ($79 billion) in additional support for 2027. His appeal came as reports indicated Ukraine had virtually exhausted its Patriot missile stocks, while Greece and Spain faced pressure to release their own inventories.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with European Union leaders at the summit in Brussels on October 16 to provide 300 Patriot missile interceptors and an additional €70 billion in support for the upcoming year, as Ukraine's stocks of US-made missiles capable of defending against Russian ballistic attacks were nearly depleted.
Zelensky warned that Russia had already launched a significant assault on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, putting millions of civilians at risk of additional strikes as winter approached. The Ukrainian leader emphasized the need for a substantial missile package - specifically 300 Patriot interceptors against ballistic missiles - to defend against Russian attacks.
His plea came amid growing tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has criticized Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries while easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports under a controversial energy deal with Moscow. Ukraine's dwindling air defense capabilities have become critical, with only 10 Patriot interceptors remaining as of October 7, following their use during recent Russian attacks.
The shortage threatens Ukraine's ability to protect major population centers and power infrastructure against Russian ballistic missiles. European countries holding Patriot interceptors, including Greece and Spain, have been under pressure to release missiles from their national inventories. Greece reportedly holds at least 200 PAC-2 interceptors, some nearing the end of their operational lifespan, while Spain has been reluctant to reduce its stockpile.
To expedite deliveries, European officials have been exploring arrangements to transfer existing Patriot interceptors to Ukraine immediately, allowing Kyiv to receive operational missiles before winter rather than waiting for newly manufactured ones, which can take approximately two years to produce.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
