Zelenskyy pushes U.S. for more Patriot missiles, warning of Russian attacks

Washington — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine urged President Trump and Congress to grow deliveries of Patriot rocket systems successful a missive written connected Memorial Day, informing that Russia is preparing a broader run of ballistic rocket attacks against Ukrainian cities.

CBS News obtained the five-page letter, which framed Ukraine's combat against Russia not simply arsenic a determination war, but arsenic a trial of American enactment and the durability of Western alliances.

"And erstwhile it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we trust astir exclusively connected the United States," wrote Zelenskyy. "Patriot systems stay the astir effectual defence against each benignant of Russian ballistic missile." 

He added: "And it is successful Ukrainian hands that Patriot systems person proven thing highly important: the bulk of Russian missiles tin beryllium stopped."

The entreaty comes arsenic Ukraine faces mounting unit from intensified Russian aerial bombardments and increasing uncertainty implicit the gait of Western subject assistance. Zelenskyy described a massive Russian assault carried retired connected the eve of Memorial Day, saying Moscow launched dozens of cruise and ballistic missiles, including hypersonic weapons, alongside astir 600 drones. 

The strikes killed astatine slightest 2 people, and astir 100 radical were injured. More than 350 residential buildings were damaged, among them schools and museums successful Kyiv, including the Chornobyl Museum, which had precocious been renovated up of the 40th day of the Chornobyl disaster. The depository was destroyed by a nonstop rocket strike, according to Zelenskyy's letter. 

The missive appeared calibrated not lone to unafraid subject aid, but besides to reenforce Ukraine's strategical worth to the U.S. astatine a infinitesimal erstwhile Washington is balancing commitments successful Europe, the Middle East and Asia. 

Zelenskyy underscored that Patriot interceptors are incredibly hard to get rapidly capable to antagonistic Russia's expanding ballistic rocket campaign. The embattled president said portion he's "grateful" for the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, the NATO-backed procurement mechanics created to support U.S.-made weapons flowing to Ukraine, the "current gait of deliveries done the PURL programme is nary longer keeping up with the world of the menace we face."

The Kviv Independent first reported on the missive Wednesday.