Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky writes urgent letter to Trump over critical air defence shortage
Europe should prepare to talk to Russia but 'priority' is supporting Ukraine, French minister says
Volodymyr Zelensky has written an urgent letter to Donald Trump warning of an impending shortage of Ukraine’s critical air defences, it has been reported.
In the note seen by the Kyiv Independent, the Ukrainian president said Europe cannot keep pace with the number of US-produced Patriot missiles needed and asked his US counterpart for help, adding ballistic missiles remain Moscow's "last major advantage on the battlefield."
Ukraine's only means to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles is US-made interceptors for the Patriot air defence system. Throughout four years of war, Kyiv has been short of interceptors, but the Iran war has threatened to make resources even more scarce.
Since Trump took office, Ukraine has been purchasing Patriot missiles through NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, financed by its European allies. But in his letter, President Zelensky warned the pace of deliveries is “no longer keeping up with the reality of the threat we face.”
"For us - for a nation fighting for its survival - there is hardly anything more painful to see than Patriot batteries with no missiles loaded," he added.
It comes as Russia intensifies its attacks from above and threatened a new wave of long-range strikes on Kyiv.
PinnedRussia to allow banks and staff to shoot down drones
Russia has passed a law allowing its central bank and other financial institutions to operate their own defence systems and arm staff to repel drone attacks.
Ukraine struck the central bank's office in Sevastopol in Crimea with a missile on Wednesday, local governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said, causing a fire in the building.
Under the plan published by the lower house of parliament in Russia, Drone defence systems could be located next to the central bank, the country's biggest bank Sberbank, and the Russian Cash Collection Association.
Staff at those institutions would be permitted to be armed.
Ukraine is increasingly striking long-range targets in Russia with drones, placing Vladimir Putin under domestic pressure.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 12:24Zelensky sends Trump urgent letter over Ukraine's critical missile defence shortages
President Zelensky has sent President Trump an urgent letter warning of UKraine’s critical missile defence shortages, reports have suggested.
The letter, as seen by the Kyiv Independent, reads: "When it comes to air defence against missiles, we rely on our friends.
"When it comes to defending against ballistic missiles, we rely almost exclusively on the United States."
It comes as Russia steps up its mass aerial strikes on Ukraine and has threatened a new wave of long-range strikes on Kyiv.
President Trump with President Zelensky (AFP/Getty)
Nicole Wootton-Cane27 May 2026 23:20Almost 500,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine war, GCHQ says
Nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed over the course of the Ukraine war, new intelligence from GCHQ suggests.
The agency’s director Anne Keast-Butler revealed the figures during her inaugural public speech on Wednesday as she set out the biggest threats facing the UK.
She said Russia is "targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust".
Ms Keast-Butler added: "In the face of such aggression and chaos, GCHQ is working tirelessly with intelligence and defence partners to degrade and reduce the Russian threat."
Director of GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler, delivers her inaugural annual lecture (Getty)
Nicole Wootton-Cane27 May 2026 23:00Lithuania to buy more than 900 armoured vehicles from Finland, Lithuanian president says
Lithuania will purchase more than 900 armoured vehicles from Finnish defence group Patria, including 300 by 2030, the Baltic country's President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 22:30Pictured: A woman carries flowers in front of a burned-out market after a Russian attack in Kyiv
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 21:30Finland suspects Russian military aircraft violated its airspace to evade thunderstorm
Finland's defence forces said on Wednesday they suspected a Russian military aircraft had violated Finnish airspace while evading a thunderstorm in the Gulf of Finland.
The Finnish air force responded to the incident with an operational flight, the defence forces said in a statement, adding it had happened near Porkkala on the southwestern coast of Finland.
The Finnish border guard is investigating the incident, Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 20:30North Korea claims it has tested AI-guided missiles and rockets
Moscow’s ally North Korea has reportedly used artificial intelligence for the first time in its missile technology, according to the state-run KCNA news agency on Wednesday.
Pyongyang tested a “newly-developed lightweight multi-purpose missile launching system and multiple tactical cruise missile weapon system” on Tuesday under Kim Jong Un’s supervision, KCNA reported.
The launches included a tactical ballistic missile, artillery rockets and tests involving “the AI-guided hit accuracy of [a] tactical cruise missile”.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 19:30Missile downed in southern Russian city of Taganrog, regional governor says
A missile was downed in the southern Russian city of Taganrog in the early hours of Wednesday, Yuri Slyusar, the governor of the Rostov region, said on the Telegram messaging app.
Details about casualties are being clarified, he added.
Taganrog is a port city at the eastern end of the Sea of Azov, east of the border with Ukraine.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 18:30Pictured: Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer toward Russian positions
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 17:30Latvia to increase anti-drone defences on Russian border
Ukrainian drones have strayed into NATO Baltic countries' airspace in recent weeks, sowing confusion and raising tensions with Russia at a time when US commitment to NATO's collective security is in question.
Ukraine, which has been targeting Russia's Baltic oil loading ports, has said Russian jamming of their drones' signals had caused them to veer off course.
Daniel Keane27 May 2026 16:30
