Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has formally requested the United States to grant licenses for the production of Patriot missile systems in Ukraine. He expressed concerns that the current production rate of anti-ballistic missiles in the U.S. is insufficient to meet global security challenges.
In a letter addressed to the White House and Congress, Zelensky pointed out that Russia is ramping up its own ballistic missile production. “The current output of 60 to 65 anti-ballistic missiles per month is inadequate given the threats we face. This is not a secret; Russia is aware of it. We need to expand production capabilities,” he stated.
Zelensky emphasized that increasing the production of Patriot missiles would not only benefit Ukraine but also assist other nations in the Middle East and beyond that the U.S. chooses to support.
Romania Confirms Russian Drone Involved in Recent Attack
In a related development, Romanian officials confirmed that a drone that struck a residential building in Galați on May 29 was indeed a Russian-made Geran-2 drone. This confirmation follows an investigation into the incident.
“We are certain that this was a Russian Geran-2 drone. We can assert this based on a previous incident involving a similar drone that failed to detonate. The remnants from both drones are identical,” stated Romanian President Nicolae Ciucă.
He noted that Cyrillic markings identifying the drone as a Geran-2 were found among the debris. Furthermore, the electronic components and design features closely matched those of previously recovered drones of the same type in Romania.
Ciucă also warned that Russia must ensure its military actions do not endanger Romanian citizens. “When Russia conducts strikes across the Danube, they need to be aware that their actions pose a real threat to Romanian lives. This serves as a warning to the Russian side,” he added.
On the night of May 29, during a Russian airstrike on Ukraine, the drone crashed into a ten-story building in Galați, resulting in a fire and reports of two injuries. Romania’s Ministry of Defense confirmed the drone’s origin, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the incident as a serious escalation by Russia.
Lukashenko Dismisses Ukrainian Target Claims
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko responded to claims made by Ukrainian military commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, who stated that Ukraine has identified 500 targets in Belarus in the event of a military escalation from that territory.
“They may have identified 500 targets, but we have one very serious target with precise coordinates, very close to Belarus. They understand this as well,” Lukashenko remarked.
This statement follows Brovdi’s comments made on May 26, where he indicated that Ukraine was prepared to respond to any aggression from Belarus.
Zelensky Sees Diplomatic Opportunity Before Winter
In an interview with CBS News, President Zelensky indicated that there may be an opportunity for diplomatic negotiations with Russia before the onset of winter. He noted that Russia has been losing its military initiative on the battlefield.
“Since December 2025, we have seen Russia’s diminishing capability to maintain territorial gains. I believe there is a window for negotiations as Russia continues to lose personnel and resources each month. We need to explore diplomatic avenues before winter arrives, but this depends on internal pressures on Putin and the impact of sanctions from the U.S. and Europe,” Zelensky explained.
Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for U.S. licenses for Patriot missile production amid rising Russian threats. Romania confirms a Russian drone's involvement in a recent attack, while Belarusian President Lukashenko dismisses Ukrainian claims of designated targets. Zelensky also sees potential for negotiations with Russia before winter.