Zelensky Sends Urgent White House Letter on Air Defense Shortages; U.S. Sec. Hegseth Pledges to 'Find a Way' — Day 1,557

On May 31, 2026 — Day 1,557 of Russia's full-scale invasion — President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a high-level strategic defense meeting and sent an urgent letter to the White House warning that Ukraine faces critical shortages of missile interceptors for its Patriot and SAMP/T air defense batteries. The shortage has become acute following Russia's unprecedented aerial escalation of May 23–30, which included the largest single attack on Kyiv since 2022 (600 drones + 90 missiles on May 23), an Oreshnik IRBM strike on Bila Tserkva on May 24 (first on Kyiv Oblast), and sustained mass drone barrages averaging 200–290+ Shaheds nightly. Zelensky's May 31 strategic meeting focused on: (1) emergency coordination with U.S. and European envoys on accelerated delivery of additional Patriot PAC-3 interceptors and SAMP/T Aster-30 missiles; (2) finalizing a Ukrainian drone mass-production deal with the EU for 2026–2027; (3) diplomatic pressure to advance weapons deliveries ahead of Russia's expected summer offensive. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Zelensky's letter on May 30, telling reporters the United States will 'find a way' to help Ukraine defend itself — the most explicit U.S. commitment to continued Ukraine air defense support under the Trump administration's second term. Separately, the European Union was preparing to deliver the first tranche of its €90 billion interest-free loan to Ukraine in late May/early June 2026, earmarked for weapons procurement including air defense systems.