Zelensky sends letter to Trump requesting additional ammunition to counter Russian missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sent a letter to US President Donald Trump, requesting additional ammunition for air defence systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles. The request underscores Ukraine’s reliance on US support to counter Russian missile strikes, despite its leadership in developing long-range drone interception systems that have attracted global military attention. Zelensky’s appeal comes days after one of the worst combined missile and drone attacks on Kyiv since Russia’s invasion over four years ago, causing widespread destruction across the Ukrainian capital. In the 26 May letter addressed to Trump, Zelensky requested US assistance in securing vital protective measures against Russian threats, including Patriot PAC-3 missiles and additional systems to counter Russian ballistic and other missile attacks. A senior presidential official separately acknowledged the difficulty in sourcing ammunition for advanced Western-supplied air defence systems. ‘It is currently difficult to obtain missiles due to high demand in the Gulf and other regions,’ the source said. ‘And supplies via the PURL system are also slowing,’ the source added, referring to the mechanism where Ukraine’s European allies purchase weapons from the US on its behalf. The conflict in the Middle East, which has seen US allies expend significant air defence ammunition to protect Gulf locations, has worsened shortages Ukraine has faced since the war began. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s success in drone warfare has drawn the attention of Gulf states, which have been targeted by Iranian-designed drones that Ukraine has successfully countered.