Ukraine is hoping that renewed efforts to restart ceasefire negotiations with Russia could bring an end to the five-year war before what officials fear could become a severe winter campaign.
However, Kyiv says it urgently requires advanced anti-ballistic missile systems to protect the country from intensifying Russian attacks, Ukraine’s envoy to Washington said on Thursday.
Olha Stefanishyna told reporters that Ukraine was holding talks with the Pentagon over obtaining a license to manufacture Patriot PAC-3 missiles domestically. She said the process could take between 12 months and five years to complete. Discussions were also continuing on a possible long-term agreement under which Ukraine would purchase PAC-3 missiles and exchange its position in the production queue with another buyer.
Representatives from Patriot manufacturer Raytheon Co had already visited Ukraine, while Lockheed Martin Corp, which produces the PAC-3 interceptors used by the air defense system, was also preparing to send a team of specialists to the country, Stefanishyna said during an event organized by the Christian Science Monitor.
“The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable,” Stefanishyna said. “Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles.”
Although Ukraine has managed to counter drones supplied by Iran and Russia, Stefanishyna said the country still lacks an effective defense against ballistic missiles, as Russia continues to expand production of the weapons under President Vladimir Putin’s direction.
“He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that’s why, you know, we’re looking for different capabilities. We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, seeking additional air defense support amid growing Russian strikes and attempting to revive diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
Stefanishyna said a possible visit to Kyiv by US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner could form part of those efforts. She added that no official date had been announced, but the trip could take place as early as next week or at a later time.
She also said Zelensky had renewed his proposal to stop the fighting along the current front lines and use that position as the foundation for future negotiations, while emphasizing that decisions must be made before winter arrives.
Stefanishyna confirmed reports from Ukrainian media that she had offered to step down from her role as ambassador to the United States, only a year after assuming the position. She said she wanted to return to Ukraine to personally address corruption allegations related to her property declarations.
The ambassador said Zelensky had not requested her resignation and preferred that she remain in office, but she believed it was important for her and her family to “defend my case” in person.
US President Donald Trump said he was “not sure” whether he would approve a license allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles, according to The Financial Times, which cited remarks from a phone conversation with the president.
Trump also said his representatives, Kushner and Witkoff, would travel to Ukraine for the first time in the coming days, the report added.
“It’s a very extraordinary weapon, and we have to be a little bit careful of who we license to,” the president said in comments to The Financial Times.
