The U.S. Department of State authorized on Friday a potential sale to Ukraine of 500 Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors, valued at approximately $2.1 billion, to strengthen its air defense against Russian attacks.
However, the projectiles may not arrive until the early years of the 2030s, when Ukraine urgently needs this weaponry to face this winter.
The operation will be funded through contributions from Germany, Canada, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program, in addition to Ukrainian funds backed by a loan from the European Union, without utilizing U.S. resources, according to the official notification from the State Department.
The announcement was made during the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting held in Atlanta (Georgia), chaired by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, following several weeks of complaints from Kiev regarding delays in the delivery of ammunition that had already been paid for by its allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received the authorization with a mix of gratitude and concern. In a message posted on X, he described the decision as important for the country's defense, but cautioned that deliveries could begin "only within several years," a timeline that is incompatible with Ukraine's immediate needs.
The forecast was confirmed by two sources familiar with the operation, quoted by Reuters, according to which the interceptors still need to be manufactured and delivery is not expected until approximately 2032. The official U.S. statement, for its part, does not provide a supply timeline.
The authorization, which is still subject to Congressional review, also includes spare parts and logistical support. The main manufacturer will be the American company Lockheed Martin, responsible for the PAC-3 MSE interceptors, designed to neutralize ballistic missiles and other aerial threats.
Zelensky recalled that he had requested a support package from Washington for the winter of 2026-2027 that would allow for the reception of 100 Patriot interceptors per month. He explained that the 500 authorized missiles would be sufficient to significantly bolster the protection of Ukrainian airspace in the coming months, particularly as Russia intensifies its attacks against the country's energy infrastructure.
The Russians attack our energy infrastructure every day, the president reported, stating that during the last two weeks of October, more than 30 attacks were recorded against critical components of the Ukrainian power grid.
To address the delay, Zelensky proposed that the United States and its allies provide existing interceptors from their arsenals now and later replenish those reserves with the missiles that are already contracted and financed. According to Reuters, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense is also advocating for this alternative with the Pentagon to expedite the deliveries.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of rising tensions between Washington and Kiev. The Donald Trump administration recently suspended the implementation of new sanctions and restrictions against Russia, as outlined in a law passed by Congress, and facilitated an agreement to import Russian diesel.
Trump also criticized Zelensky for continuing attacks on Russian refineries and questioned his willingness to negotiate peace.
Rubio, for his part, has denied that there is a deliberate political decision to harm Ukraine by withholding military supplies, although he acknowledged that certain deliveries may have been delayed. The authorization of the Patriots does not currently resolve the timing issues or the immediate defensive needs of Kiev.
The G20 meeting in Atlanta was also marked by the presence of the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. The objections of several European representatives and other countries about being photographed alongside the Russian chancellor led to the cancellation of the traditional family photo, by decision of Rubio.
Ukraine, which is not part of the G20 but had participated in previous meetings, was not invited by the United States, the host country.
Despite the discrepancies, Zelensky explicitly thanked Trump, Rubio, and the State Department for the authorization of the sale, while insisting on the need to expedite the supply.
We demand decisions that guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or at some future time, but at the very moment when the threat exists, when Russia kills and destroys, concluded the Ukrainian president.
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