US Approves $2.1 Billion Patriot Missile Sale to Ukraine
Volodymyr Zelenskyy warns that deliveries of the 500 interceptors may not arrive until the 2030s, leaving a gap in air defense against daily Russian attacks.
By Luis Medina ·
The United States approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion on Friday, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the weapons may not arrive for years. The US State Department stated that the sale would improve Ukraine's integrated air and missile defense capabilities against current and future threats. The department did not specify a delivery date in its statement.
Zelenskyy praised the State Department's decision in a post on X early Saturday, but noted that stipulations suggest deliveries may begin only in a few years. He asked American partners to find a solution for the immediate danger, noting that Russian forces attack Ukrainian energy infrastructure every day. Ukraine has long stated that it needs more interceptors to counter the growing volume of ballistic missiles fired by Russia.
The urgency of the request follows a week of heavy strikes. On Thursday, a Russian drone attack killed at least 14 people on a rail platform in Dnipro. Officials reported that five people died in daytime strikes on two other provincial cities, and one person died in a late-evening missile strike in Kyiv. The Patriot system is considered the most effective tool for intercepting fast-moving ballistic missiles.
Zelenskyy argued that US and European allies hold sufficient stockpiles to provide interceptors now. He proposed that these existing units be used immediately while new contracts, already paid for by Ukraine and partners, replenish the reserves over the coming years. He described this approach as entirely feasible and the right way to address the immediate need.
Two people briefed on the decision told The Guardian that the missiles are not yet manufactured. They said deliveries are not expected until a couple of years into the 2030s. One source noted that Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense is encouraging the Pentagon to advance the schedule by transferring missiles from the US arsenal first and backfilling with the new production run later.
Ukraine will pay for the purchase using funds from Canada, Germany, and Norway routed through the US Jumpstart program. The State Department also cited national funds financed by the EU’s Ukraine Support Loan. The US Jumpstart program uses ally donations to buy weapons, services, and training for Ukraine. Lockheed Martin is the principal contractor for the Patriot interceptors.
The approval comes as tensions rise between Kyiv and Washington. President Donald Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Russia and criticized Zelenskyy for Ukraine's continued attacks on Russian refineries. The US is currently using munitions in its own operations in Iran, which has raised concerns about inventory levels for key air defense and precision-guided weapons.
