Donald Trump's administration is delaying approval for the transfer of interceptor missiles for high-tech Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine from partner countries.
Donald Trump's administration is delaying approval for the transfer of interceptor missiles for high-tech Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine from partner countries.
This was reported by The Washington Post, citing its own sources among American officials, noting that The Kyiv Independent was the first to write about the lack of consent from the Pentagon.
The United States retains control over the movement of Patriot missiles because they are manufactured in America. Any transfer of these weapons by other countries requires Washington's final approval. According to sources, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not formally rejected requests from countries friendly to Ukraine, but has not yet completed the approval process.
The air defense situation is worsening. A Ukrainian official told the publication that there are “only a few” interceptor missiles left in the domestic arsenal. The shortage is compounded by Russia’s increased ballistic missile attacks, trying to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before winter.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported another attack with 16 ballistic missiles, which, according to him, again took place without the activation of early warning systems from Western partners.
"When the supply of missiles for Ukrainian air defense is blocked, and Russia receives sanctions relief or a reprieve, this, unfortunately, is a denial of reality on the part of our partners," Zelenskyy stressed.
For his part, Donald Trump, while speaking to the press at the White House, criticized the Ukrainian president and suggested the need to change the negotiator. “Zelensky is not helping the situation much. I think he doesn’t want to stop it. I think it’s time for someone else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” the American leader said. When asked about the intelligence exchange, he added that the US had given Ukraine a lot, while it “gave us nothing.”
Recall, last week, Ukrainian military and technical experts already reported failures in receiving data from American radars regarding ballistic launches, as well as limitations in the speed of Starlink satellite communication at the front. Despite the fact that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denies any pauses in the exchange of information, the synchronism of these technical and military delays is viewed in Kyiv as deliberate pressure to start negotiations with the Russian Federation.
