US greenlights $2.1 bn sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
Washington approved a $2.1 bn deal for 500 PAC‑3 Patriot interceptors, funded by European allies and Canada.
The U.S. State Department announced the approval of a sale of 500 PAC‑3 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, valued at $2.1 bn (£1.6 bn).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the missiles are “the only effective weapon for downing Russia’s deadly ballistic missiles,” but cautioned that delivery could take “several years.”
Funding for the purchase will come entirely from Kyiv’s allies in Europe and Canada. The State Department specified that donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program, together with national funds financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan, will cover the cost.
The sale is described as supporting “the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States” by enhancing the security of a partner that contributes to political and economic stability in Europe.
Lockheed Martin has been named the “principal contractor” for the missiles, and the statement confirmed that “no US funds are involved in this sale.”
In related developments, Zelensky reported that Russian strikes on Friday night left about 200,000 households in the Dnipro region and at least 80,000 households in the Kyiv region without electricity, accusing Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure daily.
At the same time, European diplomats at the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting protested the presence of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by refusing to stand for an official photograph.
The approval of the Patriot missile sale follows recent diplomatic talks in Oslo and a prior dispute between Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump over sanctions relief for Russia.
Overall, the deal marks a significant step in bolstering Ukraine’s air defence capabilities amid continued Russian aggression.
