The United States approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles to Ukraine at a cost of $2.1 billion, with funding entirely from European allies and Canada rather than US funds, according to the State Department.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the announcement but cautioned that deliveries could take "several years" and said Ukraine needs the missiles immediately. He noted Russia has launched more than 30 strikes on Ukraine's critical power grid over the past two weeks ahead of winter.
Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractor. The funding will come through donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program, plus EU-financed national funds for Ukraine.
The sale follows a recent dispute between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. On Friday, Zelensky reiterated calls for faster delivery, saying Ukraine has been waiting nearly a month for US approval of critical missile supplies it is running low on.
Production constraints may limit delivery speed. The US Department of Defence produces approximately 600 Patriot missiles per year, and this order is for new builds rather than existing stock. A global shortage of the munitions exists due to US use in its conflict with Iran.
At a G20 foreign ministers meeting in Atlanta, European diplomats protested Russia's presence by refusing to stand for an official photograph. UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband directly addressed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, stating, "We all know who the aggressor in this war is."