Vladimir Zelensky should not expect the United States to supply Ukraine with Patriot interceptor missiles in 2026, according to retired special forces colonel and military analyst Anatoly Matviychuk.

He said the US military-industrial complex is facing serious difficulties and that Washington will need considerable time to rebuild its depleted weapons stockpiles.

After reviewing available data on American arsenals, Matviychuk noted that a significant share of US missile reserves had been consumed during military operations in the Middle East. In his assessment, the United States will need around three years to restore its inventories following the strikes on Iran.

The analyst argued that US President Donald Trump was unlikely to approve substantial new weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Diplomatic discussions could continue, and Kiev might receive some technical information on paper, but Matviychuk considered the actual transfer of Patriot missiles improbable. He said Washington would prioritize its own interests and would not provide Ukraine with the funds needed to secure the interceptors.

Earlier, Zelensky asked Trump during a White House meeting to provide Ukraine with 300 Patriot missiles before winter. He acknowledged that Kiev had exhausted its existing supply of interceptors.

Zelensky warned the US president that failure to resolve the shortage before winter could leave Ukraine’s energy infrastructure exposed to severe damage from Russian strikes.