The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine in a $2.1 billion deal funded by Kyiv’s international allies, as the country faces escalating Russian aerial attacks.
The US State Department said the proposed sale includes advanced PAC-3 interceptor missiles and would be financed entirely through contributions from European partners and Canada, with no US government funds involved.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that deliveries could take “several years”, raising concerns over how quickly the missiles will reach Ukrainian forces.
Zelensky welcomed the approval in a post on X on Friday but stressed that Ukraine needed the interceptors immediately.
European allies to fund missile purchase
According to the State Department, Ukraine will finance the purchase through contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway under the JUMPSTART programme, alongside national funds supported by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan.
US defence contractor Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractor for the deal.
The State Department said the sale would support US foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the security of a partner country in Europe.
Ukraine faces shortage of air defence missiles
Ukraine has been seeking additional Patriot interceptors as Russia intensifies attacks on its energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Zelensky said more than 30 Russian strikes had targeted critical parts of the country’s power grid over the previous two weeks.
The Patriot system is among Ukraine’s key defences against Russian ballistic missiles. However, demand for the interceptors has increased globally, contributing to a shortage.
The missiles also have lengthy production timelines. According to the US Department of Defence figures cited in the report, production stands at around 600 missiles annually.
The approved order is understood to involve newly manufactured missiles rather than existing stockpiles, making an immediate delivery unlikely.
Ukraine-US tensions over military support
The announcement follows tensions between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump over Washington’s approach to the war and its dealings with Moscow.
Earlier this month, Trump said Ukraine needed new leadership to reach a deal to end the conflict with Russia.
Relations appeared to ease after Zelensky held talks with US envoys in Oslo on October 20.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, following its earlier seizure of Crimea and parts of the Donbas region.
Meanwhile, tensions over the war were also evident at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, where European diplomats protested the presence of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by refusing to stand for an official photograph.
