President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress regarding the critical shortage of air defense systems. The appeal concerns the need for additional Patriot systems and PAC-3 missiles to protect against Russian attacks.
This was reported by Kyiv Independent. The information was also confirmed by presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn.
According to the publication, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine largely depends on allied support in the field of air defense.
“When it comes to air defense against missiles, we rely on our friends. When it comes to protection against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States,” the appeal says.
The President of Ukraine also asked for assistance in providing Patriot PAC-3 missiles and additional air defense systems.
“To help ensure the security of this vital instrument of protection against Russian terror — Patriot PAC-3 missiles and additional systems — in order to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks,” the letter states.
According to Dmytro Lytvyn, the letter was addressed not only to Donald Trump but also to the U.S. Congress.
PAC-3 are modern interceptor missiles for Patriot systems designed primarily to destroy ballistic targets through direct impact.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that during several days of fighting in the Middle East, more than 800 PAC-3 missiles were used, while Ukraine had never possessed such a quantity at one time.
The president also said that after his visit to Middle Eastern countries, some partners agreed to transfer PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine, but U.S. approval was required for this.
