Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has a blunt message for the United States: your missile production is "nothing," and Russia knows it. In a Sunday post on X after appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," Zelenskyy warned that the US is only churning out 60 to 65 anti-ballistic missiles per month—a pace he called dangerously inadequate given the threats facing Ukraine, the Middle East, and other American partners.

"There is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the United States and this could lead to a crisis in different parts of the world," Zelenskyy wrote. "Russia is ramping up its internal production of ballistic missiles. I sent a letter to the White House and to the U.S. Congress. I hope they will understand and respond."

The appeal comes as Russia intensifies mass aerial attacks and threatens new long-range strikes on Kyiv, including what Moscow calls "decision-making centers." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 25 that Moscow planned such strikes and urged Washington to evacuate the US Embassy in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has asked the Trump administration for licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles locally. The idea, he argued, would not only help Ukraine but also bolster defenses for the Middle East and other countries Washington chooses to support. "Until we produce a European anti-ballistic system, we will need support from the United States," he wrote.

The letter, sent last week to Trump, warned of Ukraine's worsening shortage of air defense systems, particularly anti-ballistic missile capabilities, according to the Kyiv Independent. It's a critical moment: Russia is ramping up its own ballistic missile production, and the US production rate of 60-65 Patriots per month is simply not enough to keep up with demand.

This production crunch has big implications for defense contractors. Lockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin (LMT)) makes the PAC-3 MSE interceptors for Patriot systems. RTX Corporation (RTX (RTX))—formerly Raytheon—produces Patriot GEM-T missiles and system components. Boeing Co (Boeing (BA)) supplies PAC-3 seekers, and Northrop Grumman Corporation (Northrop Grumman (NOC)) supports broader US missile defense systems, including Ground-Based Midcourse Defense.

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Zelenskyy's warning isn't just about Ukraine. It's a signal that the US defense industrial base may need to shift gears—fast. If Russia knows US production is limited, that knowledge itself becomes a strategic weapon. The question now is whether Washington will respond by ramping up output or granting licenses for local production. Either way, the stakes are global.