Kyiv may run out of Patriot air defense missiles within weeks

CNN reported this information, citing a Ukrainian official who wished to remain anonymous.

“The U.S. holds the licensing to the Patriot missile systems, and also the missile production for them, which makes it very challenging for multiple European countries to recreate these,” said Kateryna Stepanenko, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The Patriot system is the best air defense system provided by the U.S. to Ukraine, playing a crucial role in the country’s air defense, CNN emphasized. The risk of losing them has caused panic among Ukrainian officials.

“This is the only system capable of dealing with Russian ballistic missiles. The risk relates to the provision of Patriots, both in terms of repairs, maintenance and ammunition to protect Ukraine from ballistic missiles,” stated Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

“All other means of Russia’s terror against Ukraine can be countered with what we have in Ukraine—either domestically produced or received from our partners,” he added.

The report also notes that Ukrainian military personnel consider the Patriot system a technology Ukraine cannot afford to lose.

U.S. aid suspension: what is known

The U.S. president has not publicly announced a halt to arms supplies to Ukraine. However, American media have reported that Donald Trump ordered a stop to all ongoing military aid to Ukraine until he is convinced that the country’s leaders are “demonstrating a genuine commitment to peace.”

According to these reports, all American military equipment, including weapons that had not yet reached Ukraine, is being transported in transit via airplanes and ships or is waiting in transit zones in Poland, where it will remain.

On March 4, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed that the U.S. had halted military shipments to Ukraine.

At the same time, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated: “We will calmly continue our work with the U.S. through all available diplomatic channels—with the U.S. Congress, the Trump administration, and President Trump himself.”

On March 5, CIA Director John Ratcliffe officially announced a temporary suspension of arms and intelligence support to Ukraine. Meanwhile, Bloomberg, citing a Ukrainian official, claims that Kyiv is still receiving U.S. intelligence information.