President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine urgently needs additional interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems, as well as stronger sanctions against Russia to force it to end the war.
According to Ukrinform’s correspondent in The Hague, Zelensky made the remarks in a video address to the 33rd Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, taking place in The Hague from July 4 to 8, 2026.
Zelensky said that Ukraine urgently needed interceptor missiles for its Patriot air defense systems and noted that all of Ukraine’s partners possessed them. He stressed that what was needed now was the political will to transfer the missiles to Ukraine, first and foremost from the United States, and appealed for help in making this possible.
He also noted that he was speaking from the city of Odesa, which Russia is desperately trying to destroy.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine continues to find ways to counter Russia’s massive aerial attacks. However, ballistic missiles remain the greatest challenge for the country’s air defense.
He said that Ukraine consistently managed to shoot down at least 90% of Russian drones but that ballistic missiles remained a much greater challenge. He added that Ukraine was also working to improve its ability to intercept cruise missiles. According to Zelensky, Russia was relying on ballistic missiles as its last remaining tool for prolonging the war, hoping to break Ukraine’s resistance and the will of the Ukrainian people. He stressed that this was why Ukraine needed more air defense capabilities, emphasizing that it was a matter of protecting people’s lives every day.
In addition to strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, Zelensky urged international partners not to ease sanctions pressure on Russia.
He called on partners not to reduce sanctions pressure but instead to introduce new sanctions so that Russia would have fewer opportunities to adapt to the war and would be forced to move toward negotiations.
The president also placed particular emphasis on increasing pressure on Russia’s oil sector.
He further called on European countries to establish legal mechanisms for confiscating and selling oil transported by Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” stressing that these resources should not be used to finance the war against Ukraine.
Zelensky also urged partners to remain active and help secure the return of Ukrainians held by Russia, including children, prisoners of war, and civilian hostages.
As Ukrinform previously reported, Zelensky held a coordination meeting in the Odesa region on strengthening air defense and enhancing the capabilities of Ukraine’s Navy.