Ukraine's Envoy to US Warns Kyiv Can't Wait Years for Defenses as Russian Attacks Intensify, Says 'We Need the Missiles' Before Winter

Ukraine’s envoy to the United States said Kyiv urgently needs anti-ballistic missiles before winter as Russia intensifies overnight attacks, warning that Ukraine cannot wait years for domestic production to begin.

Russian Missile Barrages Expose Defense Gaps "The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable," Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna said Thursday, according to a Reuters report. "Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles." Stefanishyna said Ukraine can counter many Russian- and Iranian-designed drones but still lacks enough weapons to reliably stop ballistic missiles.

Her warning echoes President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s earlier concern that limited U.S. interceptor production could trigger a broader missile supply "crisis".

Kyiv Pursues Patriot Production And Supplies Ukraine is discussing a Pentagon license to manufacture Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, though Stefanishyna said production could take between 12 months and five years.

Kyiv is also considering a long-term purchase agreement that could let it move ahead of another customer in the production queue.

Read Also: Chuck Schumer Says Trump Instead of Standing With Ukraine 'Tried and Failed' to Pander to Russia Raytheon (NYSE: RTX ) representatives have visited Ukraine, while Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT ), which builds PAC-3 interceptors, plans to send experts.

Lockheed has also unveiled a lower-cost Patriot interceptor as global demand strains supplies.

Earlier in July, Ukraine failed to intercept any of 23 ballistic missiles in one Russian attack as its Patriot stocks ran low.

The urgency increased after an overnight Russian barrage involving more than 70 missiles and 280 drones killed at least 10 civilians and wounded more than 50.

NATO scrambled jets after a missile crossed into Poland.

Renewed Ceasefire Push Builds Before Winter Zelenskiy met President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday to seek immediate air defenses and revive diplomatic efforts.

The meeting followed Trump’s attempts to broker a ceasefire through contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could visit Kyiv as early as next week, Stefanishyna said.

Zelenskiy again offered to stop fighting along existing battle lines and use them as the starting point for negotiations, resembling earlier front-line ceasefire proposals. "He has an intention to destroy Ukraine," Stefanishyna said of Putin. "We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles." Read Also: Ted Lieu Accuses Mike Waltz of Blaming Ukraine for Arms Shortages: 'Stop Falsely Blaming Others and Take Responsibility' for Iran War Image via Shutterstock