Summary
The State Department approved a $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, with funding from Canada and European allies and no U.S. funds. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the decision but said delivery could take years and urged allies to provide missiles from their current stockpiles while awaiting the new purchase.Key Facts
- The State Department announced the approval on Friday.
- Canada and European allies, including Germany and Norway, will fund the purchase.
- The department said the sale would not adversely affect U.S. defense readiness.
- Lockheed Martin is the agreement’s principal contractor.
- Zelenskyy said Ukraine had faced more than 30 Russian strikes on energy infrastructure in the preceding two weeks.
- Ukraine uses Patriot missiles to intercept Russian attacks and has warned that its supplies are dwindling.
- Zelenskyy asked the United States and European allies to transfer Patriot systems from their own stockpiles and replenish them with the purchased missiles later.
