Washington approves sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Seneweb
The US State Department has approved the sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles worth more than $2 billion. The deal still requires congressional approval and will be funded by Canada, Germany, Norway and European funds, according to the US government.
The US government has approved the sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot interceptor missiles worth more than $2 billion, the US State Department said on Friday. The deal still has to be approved by the US Congress, with no timetable announced at this stage.
Ukraine will fund the purchase through contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway, as well as national funds supplied by the European Union’s support loan. No US funds will be committed, the US government said.
The missiles are at the centre of recent tensions between Kyiv and Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that his country would receive an average of only 12 Patriot interceptors per month in 2026, while also pointing to a major shortage of Norwegian-made NASAMS missiles.
The decision comes as a localised ceasefire around Olechky, in southern Ukraine, entered its fourth day on Friday. A joint operation to evacuate residents from Olechky was reported on 30 October.
