Kyiv, August 9: Ukraine has reached an agreement with the United States for a monthly supply of interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that this supply remains insufficient, according to a report by the Ukrinform news agency on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters in Belgrade, Zelensky confirmed that Washington will provide Ukraine with interceptor missiles each month. Nevertheless, he stressed that the quantity is not enough to meet the country’s air defense needs.
According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, Zelensky noted that the number of interceptor missiles Ukraine is set to receive in 2026 will be lower than in 2025. However, he did not provide specific figures.
Earlier reports indicated that during a press conference in Kyiv with NATO leaders, Zelensky mentioned a decline in the actual delivery of missile interceptors from allies, primarily due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
In July, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine might be nearing a peace agreement. He stated that after recent discussions with both leaders, he believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are now inclined to end the war.
Before a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, Trump mentioned that he had extensive conversations with both Putin and Zelensky, and he expects progress in the coming weeks.
When asked about the possibility of a significant breakthrough in the Ukraine peace process, Trump replied, “Yes, I hope so. I had very good discussions with President Putin. By the way, they have a lot of respect for President Erdogan; he is held in high regard by them.”
Trump added, “We had a long discussion yesterday, which lasted quite a while. Immediately after that, I also spoke with President Zelensky. I believe both want to reach an agreement. It’s unfortunate that it has taken so long, but I think something will come of it.”
He noted that Erdogan is also playing a constructive role in efforts to end the conflict. “The president is helping us with this, but I think something is happening,” Trump said.
While he acknowledged that an agreement might not be immediate, Trump remarked that negotiations often advance when expectations are at their lowest.
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