Tensions continue to escalate in the war between Ukraine and Russia, with Moscow appearing more threatening than ever. This situation prompted President Volodymyr Zelensky to urgently request assistance from his American counterpart, Donald Trump, through a formal letter.
Read: Ukraine: 4 dead and 83 injured from Russian retaliation – Kaja Kallas speaks of “heinous terrorist acts”
What Zelensky’s letter to Trump contains
Specifically, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a letter to Donald Trump and Congress, highlighting Ukraine’s shortage of air defense missiles, according to his communications advisor, as Russia threatens new attacks.
In his letter, Zelensky requested help for Ukraine to “acquire this vital means of protection from Russian terrorism, Patriot PAC-3 missiles and additional systems, in order to stop Russian ballistic missiles and other Russian missile attacks” against the country.
Patriot missiles are Ukraine’s only means of shooting down Russian ballistic missiles. “When it comes to defense against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the US,” the letter states, according to Kyiv Independent. There is serious concern in Kyiv that limited Patriot missile stockpiles are insufficient to counter Russian attacks.
New Russian attack
It should be noted that Russian forces struck Ukrainian targets using 4 types of missiles (Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon) on Sunday (24/05). The attacks, which were all successful according to the Russian side, were carried out against Ukrainian military command centers, air bases, and other facilities of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, Interfax agency reported, citing the Russian Defense Ministry.
The massive Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv during the night, causing powerful explosions, killing at least four people and injuring many more, according to Ukrainian authorities. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that seven injured people are hospitalized, while confirming that a school in the Shevchenkivskyi district was hit and that debris from another strike fell at the entrance of a shelter near a second school complex, where residents had taken refuge for protection.
