US approves Patriot missiles sale to Ukraine
The US State Department has green-lit a $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine, following reports that Kiev had exhausted its stockpile of US-made interceptors.
The US State Department has green-lit a $2.1 billion Patriot missile sale to Ukraine. The announcement comes after CNN reported earlier this month that Kiev had completely exhausted its stockpile of US-made interceptors used to defend against Russian missile and drone strikes.
According to the State Department's statement on Friday, the Ukrainian government requested 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles and spare parts for launchers. Kiev will pay for the interceptors using funds donated by Canada, Germany, and Norway, with no US funds involved in this sale.
The principal contractor for the deal will be Lockheed Martin. The department emphasized that "there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale."
US stockpile concerns
The US depleted much of its Patriot missile stockpile during the war with Iran, as confirmed in a Pentagon inspector general's report last month. A separate Congressional Budget Office assessment indicated the Pentagon had consumed between one-half and two-thirds of its inventory of certain missile-defense interceptors since June 2025.
However, US President Donald Trump has downplayed these shortages, claiming American stockpiles are virtually unlimited.
Ukraine's reaction
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky reacted to the State Department announcement in a post on X, expressing gratitude to Trump and calling 500 Patriot missiles "a substantial number." However, he complained that "it has been stipulated that deliveries may begin only in a few years," while Kiev needs the interceptors "right now."
The Russians are attacking our energy infrastructure every single day. In just these past two weeks of October, there have already been more than 30 Russian strikes on critical parts of our power grid.
Zelensky claimed US and European countries currently have "sufficient stocks of PAC-3 interceptors in their warehouses," urging Washington to find a solution for immediate supply.
Russian response
On Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had conducted more drone attacks against logistics and energy infrastructure supporting Ukraine's war effort, including a heating and power plant in Kiev and workshops in Kharkov.
Moscow claims the strikes are in response to Ukrainian terrorist attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure inside Russia, which Kiev allegedly resorts to compensate for battlefield setbacks.
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