Sell Ukraine 10% of US Patriots and ‘we will destroy all the Russians’ ballistic missiles,’ Zelensky tells CNN

Zelensky Urges Washington to Supply More Patriot Missiles Amid Escalating Russian Assaults

Qwenews.com – Ukraine currently possesses merely one-tenth of the interceptor missiles required to counter intensifying Russian ballistic strikes, President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed during a CNN interview. The Ukrainian leader described his routine as filled with “millions” of telephone conversations, negotiating opaque agreements with international partners to secure additional supplies. Moscow has recently accelerated its ballistic attacks, targeting Kyiv with particular severity while exploiting Ukraine’s critically low Patriot missile reserves.

A Critical Window for Survival

Zelensky outlined specific thresholds for missile availability. He stated that acquiring ten percent of America’s current inventory would enable Ukraine to eliminate every Russian ballistic threat. However, securing just five percent would allow the nation to endure through the winter season. “This year we have two and a half times less interceptors than we had in 2025,” he explained. “Russia has two times more ballistic missiles per month than they had before.”

“Each night you have attacks, and four or five times per month we have massive attacks … terrible nights. Very heroic, very resilient people really. But they (are) tired.”

The United Nations reported that July marked the most lethal month for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022. Zelensky emphasized the stakes involved in securing additional missiles. “If the US ‘sell us 5%, we will go through the winter and save people’s lives. If they can sell us 10%, we will destroy all the Russians’ ballistic missiles. I have 1%.”

Global Shortages and Personal Diplomacy

A worldwide deficit in these missiles has emerged, largely driven by American military operations against Iran. During that conflict, the United States and Gulf nations deployed dozens of interceptors to counter Iranian missiles and inexpensive drones. Ukraine suffers the most severe consequences of this shortage, with certain cities appearing virtually unprotected against Moscow’s nighttime rocket barrages.

The president provided uncommon insight into his daily diplomatic efforts to obtain more interceptors. He mentioned preferring to keep certain negotiations confidential. “This is what I live each day: from 1% to 5%. I have some months, and million phone calls … I try to exchange something to missiles … I do some things which I can’t even share. It doesn’t mean that it’s outside of the law. But I can’t speak about it.”

Uncertainty Over Manufacturing Rights

Zelensky acknowledged lingering questions regarding President Donald Trump’s stated intention to allow Ukraine to produce its own Patriot interceptors. While Trump announced this possibility during the NATO summit in Ankara, he subsequently expressed uncertainty about the proposal. Missile manufacturers have dispatched representatives to Kyiv for discussions, yet concrete outcomes remain unclear.

“I hope that I will get it,” Zelensky said. “I don’t have now 5% and I don’t have such an acceptance. And this is for me is a big challenge, one of the biggest I had from the very beginning of this war.”

Peace Process and Regional Security

The Ukrainian leader has been directly appealing to the White House through various channels to increase Patriot support. He recently confirmed speaking with Vice President JD Vance but declined to elaborate on reports that Vance asked Kyiv to halt attacks on a Russian Black Sea oil terminal affecting American businesses.

Kyiv has submitted fresh proposals to revitalize what has been a stagnant Trump-led peace initiative. “We need more involvement of the American side to the peace plan. I’m thankful to the team of President Trump that they want to continue. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin doesn’t want to stop this war now and (there’s) not enough pressure on him now,” Zelensky noted.

The president firmly rejected suggestions that Ukraine should surrender remaining Donbass territory. He emphasized that security guarantees remain essential for Kyiv. “Russia begins to speak about this war, and they speak about territory. The key question is why he will not come again with 1 or 2 additional million soldiers after a big pause. Why he will not come again to occupy us?”

Zelensky concurred with Western intelligence assessments suggesting Putin might attempt to test NATO cohesion by targeting smaller Baltic member states. “He doesn’t know how to end this war without big occupation or big victory for his society. It’s more simple to find some smaller country … for him, it will not be important if this country is in NATO or not in NATO. He want”