Ukraine is pressing for an urgent influx of anti-ballistic missiles to protect population centers from an escalating wave of strikes as it pursues a diplomatic initiative aimed at halting the five-year conflict before a potentially devastating winter, the country’s ambassador to Washington said on Thursday.
Olha Stefanishyna told reporters that Kyiv is in talks with the U.S. Department of Defense about obtaining a license that would allow Ukraine to manufacture PAC-3 missiles used in the Patriot air defense system itself. She said the licensing process could take between 12 months and five years.
Separately, Stefanishyna said discussions are underway about a long-term purchase agreement for PAC-3 missiles, coupled with an arrangement in which Ukraine would swap production-line positions with another buyer. Representatives from Raytheon Company, the prime contractor for the Patriot system, have already visited Ukraine, she said, and Lockheed Martin, which produces the PAC-3 interceptors, is preparing to send a team of specialists to assess needs and capabilities.
Stefanishyna described the immediate operational challenge faced by Ukraine’s forces and civilians. "The devastating effect of every overnight attack right now is unbelievable," she said. "Last night and the night before, it was 30 to 40 ballistic missiles." While Kyiv has been able to counter Iranian- and Russian-built drones, she said, an effective defense against ballistic missiles has not yet been developed at scale, even as their production reportedly rises on the Russian side.
"He has an intention to destroy Ukraine, and that’s why, you know, we’re looking for different capabilities. We have been successful in everything, but so far, for this winter, we need the missiles," Stefanishyna added.
The ambassador also outlined concurrent diplomatic efforts intended to push toward negotiations to end hostilities. She said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to press for enhanced air defenses and to catalyze a new diplomatic track. That push could include a potential visit to Kyiv by U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner; Stefanishyna said no date is set, but a visit could occur as early as next week or at a later time.
Stefanishyna said Zelenskiy has reiterated an offer to stop fighting along current front lines and use that status as a baseline for talks, while stressing that action is needed ahead of the approaching winter season.
On a personal note, Stefanishyna confirmed reports that she had offered to resign from her post as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States after roughly a year in the role. She said she plans to return to Ukraine to address allegations related to certain personal property declarations and to defend herself in person. Stefanishyna said President Zelenskiy did not request her resignation and has expressed that he does not want her to leave the post, but she believes it is best for her and her family to be in Ukraine to respond to the allegations.
Contextual note: The ambassador described parallel tracks in Kyiv’s immediate priorities: urgent operational air-defense needs to blunt ballistic strikes and a diplomatic effort to open talks on halting the conflict. The technical and procurement timelines for domestic missile production, as noted by Stefanishyna, span from one year to several years, while near-term options emphasize purchasing missiles and adjusting production-line allocations with existing manufacturers.