Delivery of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine will not begin before 2030
The delivery to Ukraine of 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles for Patriot air defence systems worth US$2.1 billion, approved on 30 October by the US Department of State, is not expected before 2030.
Source: Alex Raufoglu, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent in Washington, citing sources familiar with the matter
Details: The journalist noted that this does little to address Ukraine's acute shortage of interceptor missiles ahead of the winter.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for his part, also said on X (Twitter) that deliveries of these interceptors may not begin for several years.
Zelenskyy urged US partners to find a solution to provide PAC-3 interceptors while Ukraine faces an immediate need for them. He noted that Russia was striking Ukraine's energy sector daily, with more than 30 attacks on critical parts of the energy grid in the last two weeks of October alone, and said Ukraine had requested a winter support package of 100 interceptors per month.
Zelenskyy said 500 missiles would help protect Ukrainian skies in the coming months and strengthen Ukraine's position in negotiations. He stressed that the US and other partners had sufficient PAC-3 stocks to supply Ukraine during the winter of 2026-2027 and could replenish their arsenals in subsequent years through already contracted and funded production.
US Senator Richard Blumenthal also said it was a "disappointing catch to the announcement about interceptors going to Ukraine – delivery in a few years".
"Facing a hideously harsh winter & searing hardship from Russian bombs, Ukraine urgently needs air defence. America's green light to immediate aid would be lifesaving," he stressed.
Background:
- On 30 October, the US Department of State approved a potential agreement to sell Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles for Patriot air defence systems to the Ukrainian government.
- Zelenskyy had previously said he was still awaiting approval from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for the delivery of additional interceptors.
- According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has been receiving an average of only 12 Patriot missiles per month this year.
- Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara called on the E5 countries – Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Poland and Italy – to consider supplying 10% of their stocks of Patriot and IRIS-T interceptor missiles to Ukraine in exchange for future deliveries expected by Kyiv.
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