His appeal followed overnight strikes on Ukraine, with Zelensky pointing to ballistic missiles as the country's biggest air defence challenge.

"Unfortunately, ballistic missiles are the most difficult challenge right now. While about 90 percent of the cruise missiles in this attack were intercepted, the situation with ballistic missiles is significantly worse," Zelensky said.

"We need missiles for Patriots, and only our partners can provide them," he stressed. "We ain't talking about gifts. Ukraine is ready to buy the weapons. What matters is that decisions be made - appropriate political decisions by our partners, first and foremost in the US."

Zelensky did not say where the money for the purchases would come from. The European Union and its member states have collectively provided more than €220 billion over the past four years.

His government has also faced several high-profile corruption scandals. Zelensky fired a top aide this week over alleged money laundering, while his sacked defence chief Mykhailo Fedorov criticised corruption in the system and demanded fresh elections .

The request for more Patriot missiles came as Ukrainian authorities acknowledged that no ballistic missiles were intercepted during the latest overnight strikes.

Moscow said the strikes targeted military-industrial and logistics sites. Kyiv has also previously acknowledged failing to shoot down missiles during several attacks.

“Ukraine is capable of making its own missile, and launcher partners will provide the necessary components and critical elements - radars, sensors, and other things that everyone in Europe needs,” Zelensky said in a video address.

He said only a small number of countries had built their own anti-ballistic systems and argued that Ukraine needed to join them quickly, with “concrete results by the turn of 2026-27.”

Freya was launched in Paris in July and brings together Ukraine and 10 European partners, including France , Germany and the UK.

Under the plan, Ukraine aims to produce the missile and launcher, while its partners provide critical components such as radars and sensors.

Zelensky also renewed his appeal to Trump over Patriot technology after the US president said no agreement had been reached.

“The United States knows exactly what we need and that this is not about something abstract. This is the protection of our lives, these are concrete real people; we need air defence,” he urged.

Trump said at Camp David last week that he had not agreed to provide Patriot licences to Ukraine.

“Now, we have not agreed to that. We're talking about it. But it's a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. And I don't think this would ever happen,” he said.

“But, you know, those people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you. You know, that is possible. If you look at war. It's happened a couple of times over the years, right? So we have to be very careful,” Trump added.

Trump had previously said he was “not sure” about handing over Patriot licences after earlier suggesting at the NATO Summit in Ankara that he could do so.