Zelensky warns Ukraine may wait YEARS for the 500 Patriot missiles Trump approved in a Europe-funded $2.1bn sale
A fireball and black smoke rise from the Yanos refinery near Yaroslavl during a Ukrainian drone strike in September, as Kyiv has since suspended its refinery campaign after US envoy Jared Kushner pressed Volodymyr…
The PAC-3 interceptors are yet to be manufactured, meaning deliveries are not expected until the early 2030s at the earliest, despite Russia attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure daily. Zelensky called the approval a 'strong decision' but immediately pressed Washington to instead release missiles already stockpiled in the US arsenal, with new production backfilling those stocks later.
Canada, Germany and Norway are funding the full $2.1bn purchase through the US JUMPSTART programme, with no American funds involved.
Zelensky had warned this month that Ukraine had nearly run out of Patriot interceptors, as the Pentagon stood accused of holding up supplies already bought by allies.
Russia struck a Kyiv energy facility on October 30, blacking out four city districts, as Ukraine separately resumed drone attacks on Russian refineries after a brief pause under US pressure.
