Ukraine’s war outlook worsens as Kyiv confronts budget and weapons shortfalls

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Democracy Dies in Darkness

Amid constant Russian drone and missile attacks, two shortfalls are raising the greatest alarm: a lack of air defense interceptors and an unexpected $27 billion defense budget gap.

September 14, 2026 at 7:16 a.m. EDT2 minutes ago

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, left, next to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaks during a joint news conference following their talks in Kyiv on Sept. 6. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images)

KYIV — Ukraine’s war prospects have grown notably bleaker in recent weeks, with Kyiv overwhelmed by Russian air power and facing an acute cash crunch, a swirl of corruption allegations, new internal political divisions and growing exhaustion among its international supporters — even as the Trump administration is now pushing to revive long-stalled peace negotiations