Zelensky says US missile defense talks have stalled

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that strengthening Ukraine's air defense is Kyiv's "first priority" and disclosed that talks with the United States on expanding anti-ballistic missile production have stalled, pushing Ukraine to accelerate its own efforts in Europe.

Front Stabilized Through Drones and Technology

In his nightly address on May 25, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had stabilized portions of the front line and achieved stronger battlefield results this year through drones, technological solutions, and active defense. The remarks came as part of a broader message titled "We Are Trying to Accelerate Work in Europe on Producing Our Own Anti-Ballistic Capabilities on the Continent in Sufficient Quantities," according to the official presidential website.president+2

"We are working with all our partners on air defense for Ukraine — clearly, this is the first priority," Zelenskyy said.president

US Talks Stall, Europe Steps In

The president was unusually direct about the lack of progress with Washington. "Unfortunately, there has been no progress for a long time with America regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic missile production," he said, according to Reuters. "We are trying to accelerate this work in Europe, the production of our own anti-ballistic systems on the continent in sufficient quantities."internazionale+1

Zelenskyy nonetheless stressed that US leadership remained vital and that Ukraine would continue discussions with Washington on how it can help.internazionale

The push toward European self-sufficiency on missile defense has been building for months. In mid-May, thirteen countries and the NATO secretary general's office met in Kyiv to launch what Zelenskyy called an "anti-ballistic coalition" aimed at manufacturing interceptors Europe currently does not produce at scale. In April, Zelenskyy said on national television that Ukraine and its partners needed to build a European anti-ballistic missile defense system "within a year," with one option being a joint upgrade of the French-Italian SAMP/T system already in Ukrainian service.euromaidanpress+1

Macron's Role and the Road Ahead

Zelenskyy thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his work on developing air defense capabilities, building on a May 16 call between the two leaders focused on anti-ballistic systems and reinforcing Ukraine's air shield. The timeline Zelenskyy has set — operational capability by April 2027 — remains ambitious given that financing structures, production targets, and US licensing approvals for key components have yet to be resolved.kyivindependent+2

Russia's ongoing aerial campaign underscores the urgency. On May 24, Russia struck Ukraine with missiles and drones including an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, according to the Institute for the Study of War.understandingwar