Nato to ‘urgently’ get air defences for Ukraine, as Zelenskyy warns of surge in Russian missile production

Nato is working to get Ukraine the air defences it “urgently needs”, its secretary general has said, after Kyiv failed to shoot down a single Russian missile in an attack on Wednesday, and as Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to significantly boost missile ⁠production ahead of winter.Speaking at a National Security and Defense Council meeting on winter resilience, the Ukrainian president did not rule out the idea that stalling missile supplies from western allies were “aimed at making Ukraine, so to speak, more willing to compromise” in peace talks with Russia.After meeting Nato’s Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said: “It is important to cut through all red tape and make the necessary political decisions. Literally every day, people’s lives here in Ukraine depend on the resolve of our partners in Europe and the United States.”Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles in an overnight attack on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people. Preliminary data from the Ukrainian air force showed its defences shot down 98 of the 115 drones fired by Russia overnight, but none of the ballistic missiles.On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said that in the first half of 2026, supplies of air defence missiles from Ukraine’s allies had fallen to a third of their 2025 level.Ukrainian service members view a Patriot air defence system in 2024. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/ReutersThe president also warned that Moscow was looking to significantly increase ballistic missile ⁠production as winter neared, when it is expected to renew its campaign against Ukraine’s energy sector.Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s president on the development of defence technology, estimated that Russia was capable of launching 100 ballistic missiles every month to attack logistic ​hubs, industrial facilities, food stores and warehouses. “The war of attrition has entered its next phase,” he said on the Telegram app.Ukraine has been short on US-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles since the ⁠start of the war. But in recent weeks, an acute shortage has come into focus, with Moscow pummelling Kyiv, on ​average, every three days in July alone. Zelenskyy said the shortage of interceptor missiles was mainly caused by the war in the Middle East.Patriot missile systems are the only system in Ukrainian service able to intercept the Russian Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.Russia often combines ballistic missiles with cruise missiles, drones and decoys, forcing defenders to track many threats and ration scarce interceptors, but Ukraine says it has too few batteries and interceptors to properly protect itself.Ukrainian firefighters work to put out a fire following a massive Russian ballistic missile and drone strike on Kyiv. Photograph: Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP/Getty ImagesThe interceptor shortage has become more acute as a result of the US-Israel war on Iran, which has consumed large numbers of Patriot and other interceptors. An analysis by the Associated Press estimated that the US Patriot inventory had fallen by at least 65% since before the war. The Pentagon claims it retains a deep arsenal of supplies.Production cannot immediately close the gap. Lockheed Martin delivered more than 600 of the newest model of interceptors in 2025 and is working toward annual capacity of 2,000 by the end of 2030. But according to some estimates, Gulf states collectively fired more than 1,100 interceptors in the first three months of the Iran war.Nato says Europe’s first Patriot missile production facility is expected to open in September in Germany.Political signals from Washington have also shifted. At a Nato summit last month, Donald Trump said the US would give Ukraine a licence to produce Patriots. About three weeks later, he said he had not made a final decision. Even with a licence, officials and experts estimate that starting production in Ukraine would take years.Despite Trump casting doubt on the deal last month, the US is pressing ahead with talks on allowing Ukraine to make Patriot interceptors, according to reports from Reuters.The discussions ⁠include an option for Ukraine to ⁠build some components for final assembly elsewhere in ​Europe, according to the report.