Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the United States for approving the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 interceptors. He said the delivery timeline is too slow for Ukraine's urgent needs.
In a Facebook post on Friday night, Zelenskyy wrote that "deliveries may begin ONLY IN A FEW YEARS." He asked American partners "to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors."
Zelenskyy said immediate delivery would help Ukraine defend its energy infrastructure during the winter of 2026–2027. He said replenishing partners' arsenals should come later, in the following years.
The source reports that Patriot interceptors are crucial for Ukraine's defense against Russian ballistic missiles. It also reports fears that Moscow will step up attacks on energy facilities to cause winter blackouts.
The U.S. decision to sell the interceptors signals a thaw in relations between the White House and Kyiv, according to the report, after tensions escalated in recent months. A State Department statement said the White House will not pay for the interceptors. It put the estimated total cost at $2.1 billion, "funded entirely by partners and allies."