Ukraine Says It Has Run Out of Patriot Missiles as Trump Questions Production License

KYIV, Aug 1: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukraine has exhausted its stock of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, renewing an urgent appeal to Western allies to strengthen the country's air defenses amid continued Russian attacks.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's dwindling air defense capabilities had limited its ability to intercept incoming ballistic missiles.

"Only one ballistic missile was shot down tonight simply because there are no missiles for the Patriot systems," he said.

The appeal came as US President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Washington would permit Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors under a production license, despite earlier indications that such an arrangement could be considered.

According to the Financial Times, Trump said he was "not sure" the United States would authorize domestic production of the advanced air defense missiles in Ukraine.

"I'm not looking for missiles. We're looking for peace," Trump told the newspaper, adding that envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff would soon travel to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of attacking a civilian cargo vessel in the Black Sea.

Alexey Likhachev, head of Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom, said the Fesco-operated cargo ship Yanina sank around 210 kilometers from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk after what he described as a Ukrainian attack.

Likhachev said the vessel, which he claimed was carrying civilian cargo in international waters, sank following the strike. All 17 crew members were rescued and were reported to be in satisfactory condition.

The claims made by both Ukrainian and Russian authorities could not be independently verified due to the ongoing conflict.

The developments follow heightened regional tensions after Ukraine reportedly attacked an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea. Iran said the strike killed one sailor and warned of retaliation, while Ukraine alleged the ship was transporting military cargo.