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“60 Missiles a Month Is Nothing”: Zelenskyy Asks US for Patriot Production Licenses
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States to let Ukraine produce Patriot interceptor missiles, warning that current US output is far too low as Russia ramps up ballistic missile production and increasingly tests NATO air defenses with drones flying toward allied states.
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Speaking in an interview with Face the Nation on May 31, Zelenskyy said he had sent a letter to the White House and US Congress asking for licenses that would allow Ukraine to expand Patriot missile production.
“There is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the United States, and this could lead to a crisis in different parts of the world. Russia is ramping up its internal production of ballistic missiles. I sent a letter to the White House and to the US Congress. I hope they will understand and respond,” he said.
There is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the United States and this could lead to a crisis in different parts of the world. Russia is ramping up its internal production of ballistic missiles. I sent a letter to the White House and to the U.S. Congress. I hope they…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 31, 2026
The President said current production levels are far below what today’s security environment requires.
“60–65 anti-ballistic missiles per month, compared to current challenges, is nothing. It is no secret, and Russia knows this. We need to expand the production. I asked the previous US administration, and I am asking today’s administration to give Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles,” Zelenskyy said.
He argued that allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles would help not only Kyiv but also US partners in other regions, including the Middle East.
“We can increase the production of Patriot missiles. This will help us. This will help the Middle East and any other country that the United States decides to help. Until we produce a European anti-ballistic system, we will need support from the United States,” he said.
Earlier, Ukraine received an additional IRIS-T air defense launcher from Germany as Kyiv continues to seek more interceptor missiles and air defense systems to counter ongoing Russian aerial attacks.
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