Zelensky says US still has not signed off on Patriot missile orders

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that the United States has not yet approved the delivery of essential air defense missiles. He noted that his country has waited almost a month for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to sign the necessary orders.

Zelensky posted on X/Twitter that he instructed his team to raise the issue with American officials again. The delay concerns missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems. These weapons are being purchased by NATO allies through a program called PURL.

The wait comes as Russia increases strikes on Ukrainian energy grids and civilian buildings. Zelensky has frequently urged Washington to speed up deliveries before winter arrives. The slow approval process has added friction to relations between the two countries.

Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted that a batch of interceptors may not have arrived. He stated that the delay was not for political reasons. Tensions recently rose after President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia. Trump also criticized Zelensky for allowing attacks on Russian refineries to continue.

Ukraine has also reported technical issues affecting its defense capabilities. The country said it experienced gaps in US intelligence sharing on Russian missile movements. Additionally, the military version of Starlink has been throttled for days, disrupting air defense operations.

Reuters reported that the order to throttle Starshield came from inside the White House. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US officials have both said publicly that the decision on Starlink and Starshield limitations could only have been made by the other party.