Some 800 US-made missiles have been used in three days across the Middle East, more than Ukraine has made use of over the four winter months.
Growing pressure on global weapons supply chains due to the US operation in the Middle East proves it is "critical" for Europe to rapidly expand missile production to meet its own needs and that of Ukraine, the European Commissioner for Defence warned on Friday.
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Speaking from Poland where he is making the first stop on his so-called "Missile Tour", Andrius Kubilius said Ukraine’s battlefield requirements, particularly for air defence interceptors, far outstrip current Western manufacturing capacity.
“Missiles, drones and extended-range 155mm ammunition are Ukraine’s key priorities,” he said, but missiles have become "the most challenging" category for allies to provide.
According to Kubilius, Ukraine faced nearly 2,000 missile attacks in 2025, including about 900 ballistic missiles launched by Russia. Those weapons are significantly harder to intercept and require advanced air defence systems such as the Patriot missile system.
The Ukrainian military needed roughly 700 Patriot interceptor missiles during the four-month winter season alone, Kubilius said, as multiple interceptors are often required to destroy a single incoming ballistic missile. However, the pace of production of PAC-3 missiles by manufacturer Lockheed Martin stood at 600 in 2025.
"Americans will not be able to provide enough of those missiles for the Gulf countries, for their own army, and also for Ukraine," Kubilius said.
"The situation is really critical," he added. “We need to develop missile production in a very urgent and very rapid way.”
European officials argue that the recent crisis in the Middle East has further exposed the vulnerability of relying on external suppliers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a briefing on Thursday that "more than 800 (US missiles) have been used over the past three days alone" in the Middle East to take down Iranian missiles and drones.
"Ukraine has never had this many missiles to repel attacks," he added.
The Ukrainian president regularly appeals to allies to provide PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles Ukraine needs, stressing that they are usually deployed and used within days of being received.
Speaking alongside Kubilius, Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the situation underscores the urgency of building a more independent European defence industry.
“Independence of armaments production in Europe and secure supply chains are becoming even more important,” he said, noting that US manufacturers may prioritise replenishing American and Gulf state stocks.
Warsaw itself has signed major contracts for American military equipment and is closely monitoring whether conflicts elsewhere could slow deliveries.
"If this conflict continues, then unfortunately, such a risk exists," he said.
Kubilius said Brussels is trying to address the challenge through new financing tools, including the €90 billion loan the EU wants to provide Ukraine to ensure it can stay afloat over the coming two years. Two-thirds of the loan are earmarked for military spending, with a requirement to prioritise purchases from Ukrainian and European manufacturers.
The loan, which Ukraine needs to start trickling in from April, is currently being vetoed by Hungary over an energy dispute with Ukraine.
The other funding option is the €150 billion defence for loan scheme that 19 member states, including Poland, have asked to tap into.
After Poland, Kubilius's "Missile Tour" will see him go Italy, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Finland.