US reportedly has not approved third-country Patriot missile transfers to Ukraine
In short
The Washington Post, citing officials, reported that the US has not approved transfers of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine from third countries. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not formally reject the requests but did not complete the steps needed to approve them, the officials said. Separately, Volodymyr Zelensky told US senators that Ukraine has almost no American missiles left, according to Axios.
Read the full story 2 min read
The United States has not approved the transfer to Ukraine of Patriot interceptor missiles by third countries, The Washington Post reported on 20 October, citing officials. Vedomosti wrote that some Patriot missiles had been passed to Ukraine by friendly countries, which required the approval of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to the officials, Hegseth did not formally reject the requests but did not complete the steps needed to approve them. Kommersant added that, according to the sources, he approved other assistance for Kyiv, without specifying what. Because the weapons are made in the US, any country buying or receiving American weapons must obtain Washington's official approval to pass them on. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Meduza, citing Axios, reported that Zelensky accused the US of deliberately delaying interceptors already paid for by NATO countries. Axios obtained a transcript of his video meeting with US senators. According to the report, Zelensky said Hegseth was deliberately not approving interceptors for Patriot systems and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS systems, and that Ukraine had practically no American missiles left. He was quoted as saying that 'some political decision' appeared to have been taken to slow support and that Kyiv wanted to understand what was happening and why. [ 1 , 4 ]
Zelensky also repeated that in the past week Ukraine had three times received no US warning of Russian ballistic missile strikes, and that Starlink and its military version Starshield were partly restricted. Axios said senators from both parties attended. Republican Tim Tillis said Congress still intended to support Ukraine and European allies, and Democrat Richard Blumenthal said bipartisan support had been clear and that senators would show it through coming actions. [ 4 ]
On 15 October, CNN reported that Ukraine faced a shortage of Patriot missiles, citing a source who said almost all ballistic missiles in the latest strike were not intercepted for lack of munitions. On 16 October, The Washington Post cited a Ukrainian official as saying interceptor stocks were practically exhausted and that deliveries had been irregular since May. Kommersant wrote that the same day the US temporarily suspended munitions sales to allies, citing a domestic shortage and priority use in the Middle East. [ 2 , 3 ]
RIA Novosti set the story against criticism of Zelensky by US President Donald Trump, who it said accused him of unwillingness to end the conflict with Russia. It said Russia considers arms supplies to Ukraine an obstacle to a settlement and a 'game with fire', and that the Kremlin had said arming Ukraine does not help negotiations. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The reports describe a shortage of air-defence missiles in Ukraine, which a Ukrainian official linked to irregular Western deliveries since May. Russian outlets also tied the story to Donald Trump's criticism of Zelensky and to Russia's position that arms supplies hinder a settlement.
Key facts
- The Washington Post, citing officials, reported that the US administration has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine from third countries. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Hegseth did not formally reject the transfer requests but did not complete the steps needed to approve them, the officials told the paper. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The weapons are made in the US, and any country receiving American weapons must obtain Washington's official approval to pass them on. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Zelensky told US senators in a video meeting that Hegseth is deliberately not approving interceptors for Patriot systems and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS systems, according to an Axios account of the meeting transcript. [ 4 ]
- Zelensky said Ukraine has practically no American missiles left. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Senators Tim Tillis, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said Congress would continue to support Ukraine. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The US has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine from third countries, according to reports citing The Washington Post. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Hegseth did not formally reject the transfer requests but did not complete the steps needed to approve them. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Zelensky told US senators that Ukraine has practically no American air-defence missiles left. [ 1 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why Hegseth has not completed the approval steps. The documents give no explanation from Hegseth or the Pentagon; Zelensky alleges a political decision to slow US support, but this is his claim as reported by Axios.
- Whether the US deliberately delayed deliveries of interceptors that NATO countries had already paid for. This is Zelensky's accusation, reported via Axios by Meduza; RIA Novosti describes it as Zelensky's complaint that Hegseth 'allegedly' withholds consent.
- What other aid for Kyiv Hegseth approved. Kommersant says the sources said he approved other assistance but did not specify which.
- The extent of the restrictions on Starlink and Starshield and the missed warnings of Russian strikes. These claims come only from Zelensky as quoted by Axios in Meduza's report.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti published its report on the US not approving third-country Patriot missile transfers to Kyiv. [ 1 ]
- Vedomosti published its report citing The Washington Post. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant published its report citing The Washington Post. [ 3 ]
- Meduza published Axios's account of Zelensky's meeting with US senators. [ 4 ]