Zelensky cites one-month delay in Patriot interceptor approval
Ukraine says it is waiting nearly 30 days for US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to sign off on critical air defense systems.
By Marta Greco ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that the United States has not yet authorized the delivery of Patriot and NASAMS interceptors. He said the delay has persisted for nearly a month.
Zelensky posted on X/Twitter that he instructed his team to raise the issue with American counterparts again. The missiles are part of the Purchases for Ukraine Resilience Link program, or PURL, under which NATO allies fund systems bought through the US.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged last week that a batch of interceptors might not have been delivered. He stated the delay was not driven by political reasons.
The holdup coincides with increased Russian attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure. Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Russia and criticized Ukraine for failing to stop strikes on Russian refineries.
Ukraine has also reported gaps in US intelligence sharing regarding Russian missile attacks. Military Starlink service has been throttled for days, disrupting air defenses. Reuters reported the throttle order originated inside the White House, while SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US officials have each attributed the decision to the other side.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
