Zelensky named specific figures in a CNN interview that determine the difference between a harsh winter and the destruction of Russian ballistic missiles. According to him, 5% of US Patriot interceptor missiles will allow Ukraine to survive the cold season and save lives. 10% — to completely close the sky from Russian ballistic attacks. Currently, the president says, he has 1%.
This is not about an abstract deficit, but about a global redistribution of resources. Patriot interceptor missiles are a limited production commodity, and last month a significant portion of them was used by the US and Persian Gulf countries during a clash with Iran. The Ukrainian front is competing for the same supply queue as the Middle East.
Manual deficit management
Zelensky said he personally conducts negotiations regarding interceptors on a daily basis — calls, exchange deals, the details of which he does not disclose. "This does not mean it's outside the law. But I cannot talk about it," he said, adding that this challenge is one of the greatest throughout the war.
A separate issue remains Trump's permission for domestic Patriot production in Ukraine. Such an intention was reported earlier, but Zelensky confirmed: formal approval is not yet in place. "I don't have 5% right now and I don't have such approval," he clarified.
Pressure on Washington and the peace track
The president confirmed a conversation with Vice President JD Vance, but did not reveal whether the issue of strikes against the Russian oil port in the Black Sea was raised — a topic that had previously featured in inquiries from the American side to Kyiv.
In parallel, Ukraine submitted updated proposals regarding the peace process under Trump's auspices. Zelensky emphasized the need for greater American involvement and rejected the option of conceding the rest of Donbas territory, linking this directly to security guarantees.
"Why would he not return with 1 or 2 additional million soldiers after a long pause? Why would he not return to occupy us?" — Zelensky said about Putin's possible intentions after the end of hostilities under current conditions.
The president also acknowledged the validity of Western assessments about a possible Russian escalation against smaller NATO countries, particularly the Baltic states, if Putin needs a quick "victory" for domestic consumption.
One question remains unanswered: whether the US is ready to allocate exactly the 5–10% that Zelensky speaks of, or whether supply priorities will continue to be determined by the situation in other theaters.
