Zelenskyy: Ukraine Receives 12 Patriot Missiles Monthly

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that Ukraine receives an average of 12 Patriot missiles per month from the United States in 2026.

The president identified these interceptors as the most challenging component of Kyiv's military acquisitions from Washington. While he noted that Europe has funded other equipment that arrived without issue, he said, "But some things are a real challenge, especially Patriot missiles." Zelenskyy explained that he works daily to secure these weapons and must request new aid packages weekly to counter Russian ballistic missile strikes.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently approved a package of 12 missiles. Zelenskyy called this approval welcome news but pointed out that Ukraine has already used 35 missiles this month. A further 23 missiles, which Kyiv obtained from other sources, still require approval.

During a meeting in New York, Zelenskyy discussed a "winter package" of missiles with Donald Trump. The Ukrainian president laid out the specific numbers of missiles required and told Trump that Ukraine would refrain from striking oil refineries if the request were granted. When Trump asked where the missiles could be located, Zelenskyy named the countries holding them. Trump responded that the United States would do everything it could to help, though it also needed the weapons for its own limited stocks.

These comments follow an announcement on October 26, when Zelenskyy said Kyiv had waited nearly a month for Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems. He stated at that time that he instructed his team to raise the matter with the US side again.