World
US Grants Approval for 500 Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
By Today News Hours Editorial Desk
The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, a munition deemed essential for defending against increasing Russian aerial attacks. The sale, valued at $2.1 billion (£1.6 billion), will be funded entirely by Ukraine’s allies in Europe and Canada. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the United States to expedite deliveries, citing the Patriots as the only effective weapon against Russia’s ballistic missiles. The decision follows a recent dispute between Zelensky and former President Donald Trump, who suggested Ukraine needed new leadership to end the war. In a statement released Friday, the State Department said the sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing the security of a partner country that contributes to political and economic stability in Europe. Ukraine will pay for the purchase through donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program and national funds, financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan. Lockheed Martin will be the principal contractor, and no U.S. funds are involved in the transaction. Zelensky noted that his country had been waiting nearly a month for U.S. approval of critical missile supplies. In a Telegram post late Friday, he reported that Russian ballistic missiles had struck two Ukrainian regions earlier that day, describing the attacks as “terrorist strikes” against cities. Zelensky has admitted that Ukraine is running critically low on Patriots as Russia intensifies attacks on key energy infrastructure ahead of winter. A global shortage of the munitions, due to their use by the U.S. in its war against Iran, means there is no clear production schedule for the new missiles. The order is for new builds rather than existing missiles, so rapid delivery is unlikely. Patriots have lengthy production times, with only 600 missiles produced per year according to the U.S. Department of Defense. In July, Trump said Washington had “not agreed” to license Ukraine to produce Patriots, three weeks after offering the country such a right.