Ukraine gets approval for Patriot missile sale

Ukraine gets approval for Patriot missile sale

The State Department approved on Friday a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine that is funded entirely by U.S. partners and allies.

The Trump administration greenlit the sale of 500 PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, including classified and unclassified spare parts

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the State Department said in the press release.

Ukraine will pay for the purchase with donations from Norway, Germany and Canada via the JUMPSTART program and national funds. No U.S. funds are involved in the transaction.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Patriot missile interceptors are paramount to shooting down Russian missiles and drones targeting the country’s cities.

Zelensky has previously accused the Pentagon of delaying deliveries of missile interceptors that other nations bought for Kyiv.

“We have been waiting for nearly a month for Mr. Hegseth to sign off on missiles for Patriots and NASAMS,” Zelensky said this week .

Two weeks ago, Hegseth told reporters that the Pentagon has not changed its posture toward Ukraine, but noted that “we want to make sure our guys have the most possible” interceptors.

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