Ukrainian air defense faces a global shortage of anti-ballistic missiles. Kyiv is banking on accelerated European production and new partnerships to fill this strategic gap.
“Anti-ballistic missiles are currently experiencing a global shortage due to the war with Iran. But we must consider other solutions,” declared Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a video address Monday, May 25.
To remedy this, Ukraine is striving to accelerate its cooperation with Europe in the field of air defense, he explained.
According to the Ukrainian head of state, air defense remains an absolute priority for the country. Kyiv is therefore actively pursuing negotiations with its international partners regarding the supply of these defense systems, but also for the development of its own production.
Zelensky said he had discussed this subject with French President Emmanuel Macron, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
He also recognized that for a long time, cooperation with the United States in expanding the production of anti-ballistic systems had not progressed significantly.
“We are trying to accelerate this work in Europe – to produce our own anti-ballistic missiles on the continent in sufficient quantities,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by RBC-Ukraine.
At the same time, Ukraine will continue negotiations with the United States regarding additional support in the field of air defense.
“The PURL program (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, a military financing mechanism launched in 2025 under the aegis of NATO, Editor’s note) is working, and we are pleased about it. Europe is providing us with financial support. But the leadership of the United States is also essential,” Zelensky concluded.
Denis Shtilerman, co-founder of Fire Point – a Ukrainian arms company that produces strategic drones and missiles for the war effort – recently indicated that by the end of the year, Ukraine could test a new air defense system, presented as an equivalent most affordable of the American Patriot air defense system.
