Zelenskyy Thanks US for $2.1bn Patriot Missile Deal, Warns Delivery Could Take Years

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed a US decision to sell 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine, calling it a strong move. But he warned that delivery could take years, while stockpiles are needed now to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. The sale, valued at an estimated $2.1bn, was approved by the US State Department. In a statement on Friday, the department said the deal "will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its integrated air and missile defense capabilities." Patriot PAC-3 missiles are advanced interceptors designed to destroy incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft.