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US approves sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, funded by Germany, Canada, Norway
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The US government has approved the sale of 500 PAC-3 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, valued at an estimated $2.1 billion. According to the US State Department, the purchase is financed by contributions from Canada, Germany, and Norway, as well as Ukrainian funds financed through an EU loan. The main contractor is US defense company Lockheed Martin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said earlier in the week that his country had been waiting nearly a month for approval of the missile deliveries amid intensified Russian attacks on infrastructure, and had repeatedly urged the US to speed up deliveries before winter. Zelensky said Ukraine is receiving on average only twelve Patriot interceptor missiles per month this year, far fewer than in previous years, and publicly blamed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the delays. Patriot systems are considered particularly effective against ballistic missiles, which Russia uses in its war against Ukraine.
Source report
Patriot PAC-3 missile manufactured by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Source: Kacper Pempel/REUTERS
The US government has approved the sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine. The US State Department announced that the sale has an estimated value of $2.1 billion.
According to the information provided, the purchase is being financed by contributions from Canada, Germany, and Norway, as well as by Ukrainian funds financed through an EU loan. The main contractor is the US defense company Lockheed Martin.
Zelensky Had Urged Speedier Deliveries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier this week that his country had been waiting nearly a month for approval of the missile deliveries amid intensified Russian attacks on infrastructure. He had repeatedly called on the US to accelerate deliveries before winter.
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is receiving an average of only twelve Patriot interceptor missiles per month this year — significantly fewer than in previous years, he said a few days ago. In his view, the delivery delays are part of a growing US disengagement from Kyiv. "Imagine this: you can count on receiving 150 missiles a year from America — while at the same time having to shoot down 150 ballistic missiles every month," he said.
Zelensky Publicly Criticized Hegseth Over Interceptor Delays
Zelensky also publicly blamed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for the delays in delivering interceptor missiles. "In particular, we have been waiting nearly a month for Mr. Hegseth's signature regarding the missiles for Patriots and Nasams," Zelensky wrote on social media. He said he had ordered another round of talks with the US side.
US Patriot systems are considered particularly effective at intercepting ballistic missiles, which Russia uses in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine is working with the US, Europe, and other partners that possess stocks of such missiles.
Source: rtr/AP/dpa/saha
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US approves $2.1bn sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, funded by allies