President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent letters to US President Donald Trump and the US Congress with information about the shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine, including missile defense capabilities.
This was reported to journalists by Presidential Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn.
This appeal was made after the Russian Federation's massive strike on Kyiv and against the backdrop of Lavrov's statements about new strikes on the Ukrainian capital.
In an evening address, the president confirmed that he had sent the letter.
“This week, I prepared a special letter to the President of the United States and Congress. Yesterday, the letter was already sent to institutions in Washington. It is rare that leaders of another state address the President and Congress of the United States of America in this way, in a letter, simultaneously, but the situation now is this: we need to act promptly, act effectively,” Zelensky wrote.
Axios journalist Barak Ravid published the full text of Zelensky's letter to Trump. Lytvyn confirmed the authenticity of the letter's text.
“On the night of May 24, Russia carried out a particularly brutal massive attack against Ukraine. Russia used 54 cruise missiles, 30 ballistic, 3 hypersonic Zircon missiles, and 2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles. Russia also launched Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missiles – one hit the Kyiv region, and the other reportedly fell on the TOT in the Donetsk region of Ukraine. In addition, about 600 strike drones were used against Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote.
He noted that many of the drones were “shaheeds” – weapons of Iranian design, “which have already demonstrated their destructive power in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region when used by the Iranian army.
According to the president, almost 100 people were injured and some died. As a result of the strike, 352 residential buildings, 19 schools and educational institutions, two museums – the Chernobyl Museum and the National Art Museum – were damaged, and a Russian missile destroyed one of the Kyiv markets.
“Every day we see what damage terror from the sky can cause. Every day we lose people and infrastructure due to Russian attacks. That is why we deeply appreciate every act of support for Ukraine's air defense. Even when we ourselves are under attack, we do not leave our friends without support. Because we understand what is at stake and how much can be lost,” Zelensky wrote.
He noted that Ukraine has increased the level of interception of drones – including “Shaheeds” – to over 90%. Ukrainian experience has already helped countries in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region.
At the same time, the president emphasized that despite success in protecting against drones, “Ukraine has not yet created its own capacity to produce missile defense systems.”
“When it comes to missile defense, we rely on our friends and partners around the world. And when it comes to ballistic missile defense, we rely almost exclusively on the United States. Patriot systems remain the most effective defense against all types of Russian ballistic missiles. And it is in Ukrainian hands that Patriot systems have proven something extremely important: most Russian missiles can be stopped,” the letter says.
According to Zelensky, there are many signs that Russia is preparing to intensify its terror campaign against Ukraine.
He emphasized that it is American support that “protects the lives of civilians in Ukraine from Russian ballistic attacks” and thanked for every aid package approved by the US Congress, for the PURL program, which helped Ukraine receive Patriot missiles purchased with European money.
“This is currently the only available way to secure Patriot ballistic missile interceptors. But the current pace of deliveries under the PURL program does not reflect the reality of the threat we face. For us, as a country fighting for its survival, there is hardly anything more painful than having Patriot batteries uncharged with missiles. I ask for your help in protecting the skies of Ukraine from Russian missiles,” the president wrote.
Zelensky recalled that Ukraine had already declared its readiness to purchase the necessary number of Patriot systems and interceptor missiles.
The President is also convinced that Europe must take on a greater role in guaranteeing its security and added that Ukraine has proposed a long-term path to expanding joint production of Patriot systems and missiles with European allies – fully under US control.
“Expanding Patriot missile production could be one of the most important contributions we make together to the security of America, Ukraine, Europe, and your allies around the world. We know, because we have tested it in modern warfare, that American weapons work. They work extraordinarily well,” the letter says.
Zelensky also emphasized that it was Trump's decision to provide Ukraine with Javelin that helped the Armed Forces of Ukraine stop Russian tank columns in 2022 and “strengthen our defense at a critical moment.”
He noted that the American HIMARS became a “real turning point” for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2022 and “significantly strengthened our capabilities.”
“But as long as Putin has at least one significant advantage in conventional weapons, he will avoid conventional diplomacy. Today, ballistic missiles remain his last significant advantage on the battlefield. That is why, on behalf of the Ukrainian people, I respectfully ask the President and the US Congress to continue cooperation, to continue to support Ukraine and all those who defend life, and to help us secure this vital tool of defense against Russian terror – Patriot PAC-3 missiles and additional systems to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks. Ukraine needs peace, not the expansion of Russia's missile war,” Zelensky wrote.
Russia's threats to strike Kyiv and “decision-making centers”
On May 22, TASS reported an attack on the academic building and dormitory of the Starobilsky Vocational College. Russia blamed the strike on the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has denied Russian claims about a strike on civilian objects in the temporarily occupied territory of the Luhansk region. According to them, in the temporarily occupied Starobilsk in the Luhansk region, Ukrainian military personnel struck one of the headquarters of the Rubicon unit.
The General Staff added that “Rubicon” is a Russian military special unit “Center for Promising Unmanned Technologies”, whose representatives regularly carry out strikes on civilians and civilian objects in Ukraine.
On May 25, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following reports of a drone strike on Starobilsk in Luhansk Oblast, accusing Ukraine of attacks on civilian targets and threatening to expand strikes on Kyiv and infrastructure. It announced its intention to “sequentially deliver systematic strikes” on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, particularly in Kyiv, as well as on “decision-making centers” and command posts.
Embassies of European countries responded to Russia's statements regarding new strikes on Kyiv and added that diplomatic missions will continue to operate.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated that this was blackmail and escalation by the Russian Federation, and called on partners not to react with concessions, but instead to increase support for Ukraine — in particular, with weapons and assistance to the army.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires ai to Ukraine Julie Davis condemned Russia's overnight attack on Kyiv on May 24, which hit museums, metro stations, residential buildings, and other civilian targets.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had conveyed to Trump Putin's message regarding the strikes on Kyiv and the recommendation to evacuate diplomatic personnel.