U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They discussed the critical state of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.
The call took place amid an escalation of attacks on multiple fronts, as Ukraine seeks to strengthen its defenses while Russia maintains military and economic pressure.
“I had a good phone call with the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky emphasized to Vance that receiving Patriot interceptor missiles remains a priority for Ukraine, given the current shortfall of this critical equipment needed to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
At the recent Washington meeting, Trump reportedly indicated that Ukraine was allowed to produce Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with U.S. firm Raytheon, echoing his statement at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.
However, Trump told reporters he was not certain he would authorize Ukraine to produce this strategic weaponry.
“One must be very cautious and careful. We have not reached a decision on this. We are considering it, but it is difficult to relinquish that kind of technology. I do not think this will happen. There are people who receive such technology and could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about future military cooperation with Kyiv.
During the call, Zelensky also raised the economic consequences of the war for global markets, highlighting the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.
Russian strikes have largely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kiev has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.
At the end of the call, Zelensky said both governments would maintain close contact to advance the agreements discussed.
On the ground, the conflict continues. A drone attack on Friday caused fires at an energy facility and at warehouses belonging to Wildberries, the region’s largest online retailer, in Volgograd, injuring at least five people.
Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical attention, and in nearby Rostov a woman was also wounded in another drone strike. Separately, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian attack; the company expects the outage to last at least two weeks, which could affect national fuel supplies.
Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has sustained around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including roughly 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has reported about 50,000 soldiers killed and approximately 400,000 wounded.
(Based on reporting from EFE)