President Volodymyr Zelensky urged European Union leaders on Friday, Oct. 16, to urgently provide 300 Patriot missile interceptors and an additional €70 billion ($79 billion) in support for next year, as reports emerged that Ukraine had virtually exhausted its supply of US-made missiles capable of intercepting Russian ballistic attacks.
Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels, Zelensky warned that Russia had already launched a major assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, threatening to leave millions of civilians vulnerable to further strikes as winter approaches.
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“I ask you to really focus on helping us get PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors,” Zelensky said in his address to the European Council.
“Ukraine can’t get by on just two or four missiles from a country every few months. We need a winter package – we always spoke about it between us – of missiles – 300 Patriot interceptors specifically against ballistic missiles.”
His appeal came amid escalating tensions with US President Donald Trump, who has criticized Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil refineries while easing restrictions on Russian diesel exports under a controversial energy agreement with Moscow.
Ukraine’s Patriot stocks reportedly almost exhausted
Ukraine’s air defense shortage has reached a critical point, according to a Thursday, Oct. 15, report by The Washington Post, which cited Ukrainian officials and sources familiar with the situation.
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Vladimir Putin said massive strikes must continue, days after Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
One Ukrainian official said only 10 Patriot interceptors remained as of Oct. 7 and that those had since been used during Russian attacks, leaving just a handful.
Another source familiar with the situation said Ukraine had run out of the sophisticated interceptors altogether.
The shortage threatens Ukraine’s ability to defend major population centers and power infrastructure against Russian ballistic missiles, which are considerably more difficult to intercept than cruise missiles or conventional drones.
The problem has been compounded by disruptions to intelligence and communications support from Washington, as well as competing demand for US-made air defense weapons during the conflict in the Middle East.
Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine was no longer first in line for American interceptors.
“We are not the No. 1 priority,” he said, referring to the competition for limited supplies.
Greece and Spain under pressure to release Patriot stocks
The deepening shortage has increased pressure on European countries holding Patriot interceptors, including Greece and Spain, to release missiles from their national inventories.
According to an Oct. 9 report by The Telegraph, Greece and Spain have declined to release Patriot PAC-2 interceptors nearing the end of their certified service lives, despite growing pressure from NATO and EU officials to supply Ukraine ahead of intensified Russian winter attacks.
Greece reportedly holds at least 200 PAC-2 interceptors, some of which are nearing the end of their estimated 23-year operational lifespan.
NATO and EU officials have urged Athens to consider transferring missiles to Ukraine, but Greek authorities have raised concerns about preserving their own air defense capabilities.
Spain has also faced pressure to release additional interceptors, although Madrid has been reluctant to reduce its national stockpile amid uncertainty over the availability of future replacement missiles.
Europe considers missile swaps to bypass lengthy production delays
To accelerate deliveries, European officials have been exploring arrangements under which countries could transfer existing Patriot interceptors to Ukraine immediately and receive replacements from future production.
The proposal would allow Kyiv to obtain operational missiles before winter rather than wait for newly manufactured interceptors, which can take roughly two years to produce.
The initiative could help address Ukraine’s immediate needs, but its success depends on individual governments agreeing to transfer missiles and accepting delays in replenishing their own arsenals.
Ukraine seeks alternatives to US missile dependence
Ukraine is also seeking longer-term alternatives to its dependence on American-made interceptors, a vulnerability made more acute by the war in the Middle East.
In his Brussels address, Zelensky welcomed work on the European FREYJA anti-ballistic program, arguing that Europe must develop greater technological independence in defending against missile threats.
On Sept. 24, following Russian ballistic attacks on Kyiv, Zelensky told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Patriot interceptors remained Ukraine’s only effective option against such threats.
Zelensky seeks $79 billion more as war costs mount
The urgent request for interceptors formed part of Zelensky’s broader appeal for European financing as Ukraine prepares for another year of Russia’s invasion.
Zelensky told EU leaders that Ukraine’s total war-related requirements in 2027 would reach €155 billion ($174 billion), including at least €70 billion ($79 billion) in additional assistance.
“This is a realistic amount. And I ask you to find this support. It will help us hold Russia back,” he said.
He argued that additional financing would allow Ukrainian manufacturers to double or triple drone production, strengthening the country’s ability to strike Russian military targets and resist further attacks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged the funding requirement and urged international partners to contribute.
EU leaders tasked the Commission with preparing financing proposals, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that further discussions would be necessary before commitments could be finalized.
Frozen Russian assets emerge as funding option
The summit also revived calls to use frozen Russian central bank assets to finance Ukraine, although Belgium, where most of the funds are held, remains concerned about the legal and financial implications.
The EU is already disbursing a €90 billion ($101 billion) loan intended to help Ukraine cover its financial needs through the end of 2027. However, Kyiv warns that continued Russian attacks on its economy and energy infrastructure will leave a substantial funding gap.
Zelensky’s request for an additional €70 billion ($79 billion) has renewed calls to use approximately €200 billion ($226 billion) in frozen Russian central bank assets to finance Ukraine’s defense.
“The frozen assets are there. That’s what should be used for supporting Ukraine,” Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said.
However, the proposal faces continued resistance from Belgium, where most of the frozen funds are held, amid concerns about the legal and financial consequences of using Russian sovereign assets.
For now, European leaders have yet to agree on how to finance Ukraine’s additional requirements, even as Kyiv warns that delaying assistance could undermine its ability to withstand Russia’s attacks.