Washington: U.S. Greenlights $2.1 Billion Patriot Deal for Ukraine

The United States government formally approved the sale of $2.1 billion in Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine on Friday. The State Department issued a statement confirming the transaction, which involves the transfer of 500 interceptor missiles to Kyiv.

According to the department, no American tax dollars are included in this specific deal. Instead, the missiles are being purchased through a U.S. program using donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway. The State Department explained that the sale aligns with U.S. foreign policy goals by strengthening the security of a key European partner.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed the urgency of acquiring these systems in recent weeks. Speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” two weeks ago, Zelenskyy said his forces were strong but faced a major deficit in air defense capabilities. “We really build, try to build air defense shield to defend our civilians, but always a big deficit with Patriot missiles and other kind of air defense,” he said.

The approval comes amid rising tension between the two leaders. President Donald Trump has recently criticized Zelenskyy, describing him as an obstacle to ending the war. Zelenskyy had previously accused the Pentagon of delaying the delivery of interceptors that other nations had already purchased for Ukraine.

The missile announcement also followed a technical disruption in satellite communications. Zelenskyy noted that restrictions on Starlink service left Ukraine more vulnerable. On Saturday, Ukraine reported that both Starlink and its military version, Starshield, were fully operational again. This resolution occurred two days after Trump indicated that Elon Musk had been asked to restore the service.