Trump approves 500 Patriot missiles for Ukraine, funded by Canada and Europe, that may take SIX YEARS to arrive
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, who had warned this month that Ukraine had nearly run out of Patriot interceptors as Russia struck a Kyiv energy facility on 30 October, blacking out four city districts.Ukrainian emergency service firefighters tackle a blaze in Sumy region as Russia struck energy infrastructure across Ukraine, hitting a Kyiv facility on 30 October and a combined heat and power plant in Shostka the following morning.A fire engine tackles a blaze in the Poltava region as Russia continued attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure daily, striking a Kyiv facility on 30 October and a Shostka heat and power plant the following morning.Norway, Germany and Canada are funding the entire $2.1bn package of 500 Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor missiles, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning deliveries may not begin for years.
Zelenskyy praised the deal as a "strong decision" but warned the arrangement is deeply inadequate for Ukraine's immediate needs, with Russian drones and missiles striking energy infrastructure "every single day." The $2.1 billion sale — approved by the State Department and going to Congress for review — covers 500 PAC-3 interceptor systems built by Lockheed Martin, with no US funds involved.
Canada, Germany and Norway are funding the purchase through the US JUMPSTART programme, but the missiles have not yet been manufactured.
Zelenskyy is urging the US and European allies to hand over Patriot systems already in their stockpiles now, to be replenished by this new order later.
At least 14 people died when a Russian drone hit a busy rail platform in Dnipro just days ago, underlining Ukraine's desperate need for interceptors immediately.
