US Approves $2.1 Billion Patriot Missile Sale to Ukraine, but Deliveries Are Years Away

The US State Department said Friday it approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1 billion, one of the most significant defensive weapons steps for Kyiv since the second Trump administration began. Lockheed Martin is the principal contractor. Zelenskiy said Monday that Ukraine had waited almost a month for sign off as Russia stepped up attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure.

When Will Ukraine Get the Patriot Missiles?

The interceptors have not been built yet, and two people briefed on the decision said they are not expected until a couple of years into the 2030s. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense is urging the Pentagon to speed things up, possibly by sending missiles already in the US arsenal and backfilling with new ones.

How Ukraine Will Pay for the Deal

Canada, Germany and Norway are contributing through a program called US JUMPSTART, alongside national funds financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan. In August the same program bought 3,350 air launched cruise missiles worth $825 million.

Russian Attacks and Strain With Washington

A Russian drone strike on Thursday killed at least 14 people on a rail platform in Dnipro, while strikes elsewhere killed 6 more. Delays have added to tension after Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia and criticized Zelenskiy over attacks on Russian refineries.