US Approves 500 Patriot Missiles for Ukraine as Zelensky Warns Delivery Could Take Years
The US has approved a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, but President Zelensky warns delivery could take years as Kyiv faces mounting ballistic missile attacks.
The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, valued at an estimated $2.1 billion, according to officials familiar with the decision [276059][275467]. The State Department signed off on the deal, which will provide Kyiv with one of the most advanced air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft [276059][275590].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the approval but cautioned that delivery could take "a few years," urging American partners to find a solution for the immediate danger Ukraine faces [276111][275590]. The sale follows a dispute between US President Trump and Zelensky over delayed deliveries, and Congress must still review the proposal before it can proceed [276059][275467].
The approval comes as Kyiv struggles with critical shortages. Zelensky said Russia has fired more than 100 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the Kyiv region in just two weeks, while Ukraine continues to wait for Patriot interceptor missiles needed to defend against these attacks [275485]. The delay in deliveries has left Kyiv's air defenses under heavy pressure, with Washington continuing to send older PAC-2 interceptors instead [275485].
Zelensky previously said Ukraine was running low on Patriot interceptor missiles after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delayed authorizing new supplies, with Kyiv waiting nearly a month for approval [271876]. The Patriot PAC-3 missiles are advanced interceptors designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft [275590].
The State Department said the deal "will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its integrated air and missile defense capabilities" [275590].