US approves $2.1bn sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but Zelensky warns they may not arrive for YEARS
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.
Canada, Germany and Norway are covering the full $2.1bn cost through the US JUMPSTART programme, with no American funding involved, and Lockheed Martin named as principal contractor. Zelensky called the deal a 'strong decision' but urged allies to draw on their existing stockpiles now, with those holdings to be topped up once the newly ordered missiles arrive.
The 500 PAC-3 interceptors have yet to be manufactured and are not expected to reach Ukraine until the early 2030s.
Zelensky said Russia has struck Ukrainian energy infrastructure more than 30 times in the past fortnight, with a drone attack killing at least 14 on a Dnipro rail platform on Thursday.
Ukraine's defence ministry is pressing the Pentagon to bring forward delivery by giving Kyiv existing US stockpile missiles and backfilling with the new order.
