Burnham to take Zelenskyy’s pleas for Patriot missiles to Trump – Europe live
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Kyiv to pledge support for Ukraine, including sharing blueprints for missile components. He plans to travel to New York to lobby Donald Trump and other leaders for additional Patriot missile systems to bolster Ukraine's air defenses.
Why it matters
The potential shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine could significantly impact the ongoing conflict with Russia and regional security stability.
Hello, and welcome to our Europe live blog. A day after hosting world leaders in Ukraine for the country’s independence day celebrations, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken to social media with a flurry of posts thanking those who sent their best wishes, including Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian president appeared to make a pointed nod to one of his most pressing requests, saying Trump’s message of support lifted spirits “much like the sound of a Patriot PAC-3 launch”. The US Patriot air defence system has been instrumental in protecting Ukraine’s cities from Russian attacks, but stocks are running dangerously low. The shortage has been compounded by the US and Israel’s war on Iran, with Patriot interceptors diverted to defend US bases and regional allies in the Middle East, leaving fewer available for Ukraine as Russia continues to launch waves of ballistic missiles.
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