Ukraine's Patriot Gap Narrows to Missiles, Not Launchers

Zelensky told the NATO summit in Ankara that air defence must be a key outcome, pressing for Patriot interceptor missiles rather than launcher batteries. Russia's recent strikes mix ballistic missiles with faster jet-powered Shahed drones, reducing warning time. NATO's June financing model—U.S. supplies, Europe funds—addresses the supply chain bottleneck. Whether that pipeline can sustain Ukraine's current strike volumes remains unresolved.