Zelensky admits 'significant' Patriot missile shortage as Ukraine not US priority

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged a "significant" shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles, stating that Ukraine is not the top priority for receiving them from the United States. He made the remarks during a briefing in Brussels. Zelensky confirmed Kyiv continues to receive PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles from the US under the PURL program, funded by European money. He noted that most of these interceptors have been diverted to the Middle East for a long time, creating a major deficit for Ukraine's air defense ahead of winter. The president said Kyiv is working with European partners to secure additional missiles, though quantities remain uncertain. He expressed confidence that Europe has enough PAC-2 and PAC-3 stocks for Ukraine to survive the winter, following recent proposals for European nations to transfer missiles from their reserves.