Zelenskyy says Ukraine seeks 300 Patriot interceptors by winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine hopes to receive around 300 Patriot interceptor missiles before winter as it works to strengthen its air defenses against Russian attacks.

In an interview with Axios following his visit to Washington, Zelenskyy said he and US President Donald Trump agreed during their Tuesday meeting to move ahead with the Patriot production licenses.

Zelenskyy noted that even if the necessary licenses are granted, it could take one to five years to produce large amounts of interceptors.

That timeline doesn't work, Zelensky said: "We need the Patriots yesterday."

He said Trump promised he would try to help, but also made clear it's difficult because of the need for interceptors in the war with Iran.

The Ukrainian president also said Russia uses 30 to 40 ballistic missiles in every major strike it conducts against Ukraine. It's conducting three to five such attacks every month.

He stressed that Ukraine is ready to share any military technology or expertise the US wants in order to get Patriot interceptors. The Ukrainian president said he and US defense companies are also exploring modifying Ukrainian-made ballistic missiles and turning them into anti-missile interceptors with similar capabilities to the Patriot missiles.