Washington: The Trump administration has said that it has approved a proposed $2.1 billion sale of Patriot air defense interceptors for Ukraine after Kyiv had accused the Pentagon of delaying delivery of the vital munition needed to stop Russian ballistic missiles.
The State Department said 500 Patriot missiles are being purchased for Ukraine with donations from Canada, Germany and Norway through a US programme and that no American funds were involved.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the department said in a press release.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned this month that his country had nearly run out of the vital military munition it needs to combat Moscow's attacks as tensions with US President Donald Trump's administration escalated.
The Ukrainian leader had accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of the missiles that other countries have purchased for Ukraine. He also said US intelligence warnings of incoming Russian attacks had been interrupted and that the Starlink satellite internet service had been throttled. Ukraine says Starlink speeds and intelligence have been restored.
After the approval, Zelenskyy has welcomed the US State Department's decision authorising Kyiv's procurement of Patriot interceptors to counter incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
A strong decision by the U.S. State Department – authorizing Ukraine’s purchase of Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles. Five hundred PAC-3 interceptors is a substantial number, and very soon – this winter – they COULD make for a highly effective defense package. However, it has been stipulated that deliveries may begin ONLY IN A FEW YEARS. We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors.Right now, the Russians are attacking our energy infrastructure every single day. In just these past two weeks of October, there have already been more than 30 Russian strikes on critical parts of our power grid. It is right now, even before the beginning of winter, that Putin has started carrying out his operation to attack the systems that sustain life in our cities and communities. The targets are electricity, heating, water supplies, bridges, and life in our cities in general.We did ask our American partners to provide Ukraine with a winter support package – at a rate of 100 Patriot interceptors per month. Five hundred missiles would be enough to protect our skies over the coming months – precisely when it is so important for Ukraine to be in a strong position in negotiations and for Russia NOT to succeed in breaking life in Ukrainian cities and communities.The United States, our European partners, and other partners around the world have sufficient stocks of PAC-3 interceptors in their warehouses. Providing them to Ukraine right now – in the winter of 2026–2027 – and replenishing our partners’ arsenals LATER, in THE FOLLOWING YEARS, through this production already contracted and paid for by Ukraine and our partners would be the right approach. And it is entirely feasible.We are grateful to President Trump. Importantly, we recently discussed PAC-3 interceptors with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukraine is grateful to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Administration overall for granting this authorization. But we are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or sometime later, but at the very moment the threat is there – when Russia is killing and destroying. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine!https://t.co/5NDPJs4hfa
In a post on X, Zelenskyy described the clearance as a "strong decision", noting that 500 PAC-3 interceptors constitute a substantial inventory that "could make for a highly effective defence package" during the winter season. However, he cautioned that current stipulations dictate that deliveries may begin "only in a few years"."We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors," Zelenskyy stated, emphasising that Russian forces are targeting energy infrastructure daily.He reported that over the preceding two weeks of October, Ukraine had endured more than 30 Russian strikes directed at critical elements of the power grid. Warning that President Vladimir Putin had initiated operations to incapacitate life-sustaining systems ahead of winter, Zelenskyy stressed that the primary targets encompassed electricity, heating, water supplies and bridges.
Highlighting operational requirements, Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv had requested a winter support package averaging 100 Patriot interceptors monthly, asserting that 500 missiles would secure airspace during the upcoming months, when maintaining a strong negotiating posture is paramount.To bridge the immediate gap, Zelenskyy proposed that the US, European partners and global allies draw from existing warehouse stocks to supply Ukraine during the winter of 2026–2027, while backfilling partner arsenals subsequently through the newly contracted production.
Expressing appreciation to US President Donald Trump and acknowledging recent discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Zelenskyy stated, "We are grateful to the US State Department and the US Administration overall for granting this authorisation. But we are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives, not the day after tomorrow or sometime later, but at the very moment the threat is there – when Russia is killing and destroying."
(With agency inputs from PTI, ANI)