'Our partners should be more active!' - Zelensky demands air defences as Russia hits Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Kyiv's Western allies to urgently strengthen the country's anti-ballistic air defences, warning that a shortage of Patriot missile systems is leaving Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attacks.
In a video address, Zelensky said Ukraine urgently needed more Patriot systems and appealed to the United States and European partners to step up military support.
"There is a shortage of anti-ballistic defence systems. There is a shortage of Patriot systems," Zelensky said. "Our partners - above all the United States and our European partners - must be more active in providing them," he added.
Zelensky said protecting Ukrainian cities would require not only additional Patriot deliveries but also the expansion of Europe's own anti-ballistic missile production capacity.
"A NATO summit will take place in the coming days. Air defence must become one of its key outcomes," he said, adding that Europe should develop sufficient capabilities to defend itself against all threats, including Russian ballistic missiles.
The Ukrainian president also revealed that Kyiv has held long-running discussions with the United States on licensing the production of Patriot systems, while also seeking to expand European missile manufacturing.
Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry said its latest large-scale strikes targeted military-industrial enterprises, fuel and energy infrastructure, radio-electronic and aviation manufacturing facilities, a missile assembly and testing plant, a transport and logistics hub, gas distribution stations in Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as facilities in the Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkasy and Chernigov regions.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
