Zelenskyy writes to Trump for urgent air defence help as we ‘rely on our friends’

US President Donald Trump has received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the lack of air defence missiles in Ukraine as Russia’s strikes continue to bombard the country

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has written to US President Donald Trump and Congress addressing the critical lack of air defence missiles in Ukraine, his communication advisor said, as Russia threatens more strikes on the country.

It comes as Ukraine is reportedly worried of shortages for the Patriot air defence system. Ukraine is currently only able to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles with US-made interceptors for the Patriot air defence system.

In the letter, seen by the Kyiv Independent, Zelenskyy wrote: “When it comes to air defence against missiles, we rely on our friends. When it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States.

“The current pace of deliveries through the PURL program is no longer keeping up with the reality of the threat we face, I ask for your help in protecting Ukraine’s skies from Russian missiles.

“I, on behalf of the Ukrainian people, respectfully ask the president and the U.S. Congress to remain engaged. And to help us secure this vital tool of protection against Russian terror — Patriot missiles PAC-3 and additional systems — to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks.”

Zelenskyy also added that the skies over Ukraine could be protected as “The majority of Russian missiles can be stopped.”

The letter also went on to claim that Russia launched two Oreshnik IRBM at Ukraine in latest strike, according to Reuters.

Russia fired more than 100 drones and two ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian air force has said.

The news came as the country’s foreign ministry noted that Moscow’s recent threat to hit Kyiv especially hard from the air brought nothing new.

Russia on Monday urged foreign citizens, including members of diplomatic missions, to leave the Ukrainian capital as quickly as possible and told residents to steer clear of military and government facilities.

It said that “systemic strikes” on Kyiv were being prepared.

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told US secretary of state Marco Rubio by phone on Monday that the US should evacuate its diplomatic staff from Kyiv, a foreign ministry statement said.

Mr Rubio did not say whether the state department would take that step, but expressed concern during a trip to India that the “terrible” war in Ukraine could escalate further.

The Trump administration has tried for more than a year to stop the fighting that broke out after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

But its efforts yielded no significant breakthrough and are now on ice as Washington focuses on the Iran war.

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