State Department approves $2.1bn Patriot missile sale to Ukraine

Approval and funding terms

The State Department approved the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine at a cost of $2.1 billion, CBS News reported. The department said Ukraine will pay with donations from Canada and European allies such as Germany and Norway, and that no U.S. funds are involved.

The department said the proposed sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a partner country it described as a force for political and economic stability in Europe. It named Lockheed Martin as principal contractor and said the sale would have no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness.

Zelenskyy's warning on timing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision and thanked President Trump, but warned that deliveries of the munitions could take years. He asked American partners to find a solution for the period when there is a real danger.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy said there had been more than 30 Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the past two weeks, targeting systems that sustain life in cities and communities. He urged the United States and European allies to provide Patriot systems from their own stockpiles and replenish them with the 500 missiles in the coming years.

CBS News reported that Ukraine has long warned of dwindling Patriot supplies and has previously accused the U.S. of slowing deliveries. The approval comes amid tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, who faced criticism for waiving new sanctions on Russia days before they were expected to take effect.