Missile Supply Gap: Zelensky Reports 30-Day Wait for Pentagon Sign-Off
The Ukrainian president said he has instructed his team to press Washington again as Russia intensifies attacks on energy infrastructure.
By Aminata Patterson ·
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that his country has waited nearly a month for US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to approve critical missile supplies. The delay concerns interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS systems.
Zelensky posted on X that he instructed his team to raise the issue with the American side again. He noted that the pending signature is essential for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
Russia increased attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure in the days leading up to the announcement. Zelensky has repeatedly urged the US to accelerate deliveries under the PURL program, which allows NATO allies to purchase and transfer equipment to Kyiv.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged last week that a batch of interceptors may not have arrived. He stated that the delay was not for political reasons.
The situation adds to friction between the two governments. President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia and criticized Zelensky for not stopping attacks on Russian refineries. Ukraine has also reported gaps in US intelligence sharing and reported that Starlink military services were throttled for days, disrupting air defense operations.
Reuters reported that the order to throttle Starshield originated inside the White House. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US officials have publicly stated that decisions on Starlink limitations could only have been made by the other party.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
