KYIV: The US government should respond positively to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s request for more air defense missiles to shield Ukraine’s capital from a threatened escalation in Russian bombardment, two US congressmen said on Thursday.
Zelensky wrote to US President Donald Trump and the members of the US Congress this week to request additional Patriot systems and interceptors — the only effective shield against Russia’s ballistic missiles in Ukraine’s arsenal.
On Monday, Russia warned foreigners and diplomats to leave Kyiv and said it would launch “systematic strikes” on targets in the Ukrainian capital. In its latest massive strike on Sunday, Russia used 30 ballistic missiles against Ukraine and only 11 of them were shot down, according to Ukraine’s air force.
After meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv, Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said the United States had complied several times in the past with Kyiv’s requests for additional weapons.
“My hope and expectation is that America will respond positively to this request,” said Blumenthal, speaking alongside US Representative Jim Himes, a fellow Democrat.
