Zelenskyy: Ukraine gets 12 Patriot missiles monthly from US

Ukraine receives an average of 12 Patriot interceptor missiles per month from the United States in 2026.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the statement on Tuesday, identifying the supply of interceptors as the most difficult component of equipment purchases from Washington. He noted that European nations have funded much of the hardware, with deliveries arriving without issue.

"But some things are a real challenge, especially Patriot missiles," Zelenskyy said, adding that he works daily to secure these weapons. He explained that Kyiv must seek new aid packages weekly to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved a package of 12 missiles. Zelenskyy called this welcome news but pointed out that Ukraine has already used 35 missiles this month. A separate batch of 23 missiles, sourced from other countries, remains pending approval.

Zelenskyy recounted a recent meeting with President Donald Trump in New York, where he requested a "winter package" of missiles. He stated that he told Trump Ukraine would refrain from striking oil refineries if the request were granted. Trump responded that the United States would do everything it could to help, though it also needed the missiles for its own use and had limited stocks.

These remarks follow Zelenskyy's announcement on October 26 that Kyiv had waited nearly a month for Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems. He instructed his team to raise the matter with the US side again.