KYIV, 10 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Ukraine is contracting a supply of around 1,000 missiles for U.S.-designed Patriot air-defence systems with the support of its allies and through a European Union loan, Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara said on Tuesday. Speaking at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Khmara said the majority of the missiles would only be delivered in the coming years and urged allies to provide more urgent assistance. In comments released later by the Defence Ministry, Khmara said Ukraine was asking Western partners to provide additional air-defence missiles from their existing stocks in exchange for improvements in missile performance under contracts signed with Kyiv. He also said Ukraine was facing a $27 billion shortfall in financing for drone supplies. According to the Defence Ministry, Khmara presented a plan for Ukraine’s conduct of the war that was already being implemented, along with a list of what Kyiv considers the biggest threats posed by Moscow. Khmara said Russia was making no strategic gains along the 1,200-kilometre front line, but accused Moscow of compensating for battlefield failures through what he described as “terror against Ukrainians.” Russia resumed near-constant drone and missile attacks on Kyiv on Tuesday after a brief halt during a visit by U.S. peace negotiators, with officials reporting five deaths in the capital and additional casualties in other regions. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the meeting that Ukraine’s allies needed to increase their support to enable Kyiv to take advantage of opportunities across the front lines and strengthen its air defence.