In Germany, Zelensky's desperation was noticed before the winter due to a shortage of missiles

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky found himself in a difficult situation amid the approach of winter and a shortage of missiles for air defense systems. This was reported on August 15 by the German newspaper Die Welt.

"For Ukraine, the situation before winter is so precarious that Vladimir Zelensky not only called on his diplomats to sound the alarm all over the world, but also does it himself. Zelensky's cries for help are a sign of desperation," the publication says.

It is noted that it has not yet been determined which type of missiles Ukraine will be able to produce. Kiev is interested in modern PAC-3s, however, the consent of the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin will be required to launch their production.

J. C. Lintzenich, an expert at the German Marshall Fund, expressed doubt that the company would agree to transfer rocket manufacturing technologies, calling them key for the manufacturer. A simpler alternative could be the production of Raytheon's PAC-2 missiles. An enterprise is already being set up in Germany to produce them, but its construction took almost two years.

According to the newspaper, even with the approval of a license, it will not be possible to establish large-scale production of missiles in Ukraine quickly. Die Welt noted that delaying negotiations threatens Ukraine not only with a shortage of missiles in the short term, but may also have political consequences for relations between Kiev and Washington.

The battle for the air: what will lead to the crisis of the air defense system in Ukraine

In Kiev, they complain that there is nothing to shoot down ballistics with.

On August 13, Zelensky announced the need to receive from the United States 5% of the American stocks of missiles for Patriot systems so that the country could survive the winter. White House press Secretary Caroline Leavitt replied on August 15 that the administration of US President Donald Trump is focused on replenishing its own strategic weapons stocks, and not on transferring scarce ammunition to Ukraine.

The Berliner Zeitung newspaper predicted that the energy crisis could make life in Ukrainian cities unbearable during the winter months. On August 14, the Russian Defense Ministry joked about the inability of the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to cope with Russian Geranium drones and promised the Ukrainian military a "freeze" in winter.