Zelenskyy thanks US over deal for 500 Patriot missiles but warns delivery could take years
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised the US for approving the sale of 500 Patriot missiles worth $2.1 billion but warned delivery could take years.
The announcement came on Friday as Kyiv continues to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy acknowledged the substantial number of interceptors but emphasized the urgency of their delivery given the approaching winter.
Winter Concerns
Earlier this week, Zelenskyy revealed that Kyiv had been waiting for almost a month for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to sign off on missiles for both the Patriot and NASAMS systems. The rapidly approaching winter has heightened the need for additional interceptors, as Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's power grid during winter periods to break the country's resolve.
We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors.
Defense Strategy
Dwindling interceptor stocks have already encouraged Russia to increase missile attacks in recent months. Zelenskyy suggested that the US and European partners could provide Ukraine with existing stocks now while replenishing their arsenals later through contracted production already paid for by Ukraine and its partners.
The Patriot missile platform is one of the world's most advanced air defense systems, capable of defending against aircraft and ballistic missiles. Ukraine receives most of its Patriots through NATO's Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which has committed over $6 billion in defense equipment funding as of June 2026.
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