US Approves Sale of 500 Patriot Missiles to Ukraine
Published : 14:29, 31 October 2026
The United States has approved the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine to help counter Russia's growing missile and drone attacks. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that delivery of the missiles could take several years.
The information was reported by the BBC.
On Friday, October 30, the US State Department said it had approved the proposed sale of the missiles to Kyiv. The estimated value of the deal is $2.1 billion.
On Friday night, Zelensky again urged Washington to deliver the Patriot missiles as quickly as possible. Kyiv considers the system particularly important for intercepting Russia's powerful ballistic missiles.
Earlier this month, disagreements emerged between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump. Washington had eased sanctions on Moscow as part of an arrangement to secure diesel supplies from Russia, prompting criticism from Ukraine.
Trump said Ukraine needed new leadership to reach an agreement to end the war with Russia. Moscow launched its full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Before that, Russia had seized Crimea and parts of the eastern Donbas region in 2014.
Tensions between the two countries eased somewhat following Zelensky's meeting with US representatives in Oslo, the capital of Norway, on October 20.
In its statement on Friday, the US State Department said the proposed arms sale would strengthen the security of a partner country that contributes to political and economic stability in Europe. It would also support US foreign policy and national security objectives.
The statement added that Ukraine would finance the purchase through contributions from Canada, Germany and Norway. Funding would also come from national resources under the European Union's Ukraine assistance loan. The financing would be provided through the Jumpstart programme.
US arms manufacturer Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractor for the missile supply. The State Department also said the sale would not involve any expenditure from the US government's funds.
