Ukraine Needs Patriot Missiles For Its Defense, Trump Admits

U.S. President Donald Trump said Ukraine would need Patriot missiles for its defense after speaking with President Volodymyr Zelensky and voiced frustration over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s failure to end the fighting, Andrea Shalal and Max Hunder reported for Reuters.

Ukraine has been requesting additional Patriot missiles and systems from Washington. I Photo: NATO Flickr

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he had a good call with Zelensky, repeating that he was "very unhappy" about his call with Putin a day earlier, citing the Russian leader’s refusal to work on a ceasefire.

Asked whether the U.S. would agree to supply more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, as requested by Zelensky, Trump said: “They’re going to need them for defense... They’re going to need something because they’re being hit pretty hard.”

He praised the effectiveness of the Patriot system, calling the weapon “pretty amazing.”

Asked about the prospects for a ceasefire, Trump said, “It’s a very tough situation... I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people — it’s no good.”

Zelensky said he agreed to work on increasing Kyiv’s capability to “defend the sky” as Russian attacks escalate, adding in a message on Telegram that he discussed joint defense production, as well as joint purchases and investments, with the U.S. leader.

Ukraine has been requesting additional Patriot missiles and systems from Washington, viewing them as key to defending its cities from intensifying Russian airstrikes, Doina Chiacu, Tim Gardner, and Frank Jack Daniel also reported for Reuters.