Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Kyiv has been waiting nearly a month for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve the delivery of additional interceptor missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air-defence systems.
The claim comes as Ukraine continues to face Russian missile, guided-bomb and drone attacks. Zelenskyy said his government was pressing the United States, European countries and other partners to unblock supplies that Kyiv considers essential to protecting its cities and military positions.
What Zelenskyy said about the missile deliveries
In a weapons-supply update published on Monday, Zelenskyy said Ukraine was seeking interceptors for both the Patriot and NASAMS platforms. He said Ukrainian officials had again been instructed to raise the issue with Washington.
According to Zelenskyy, discussions are also continuing with countries that hold stocks of PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, the interceptor variants associated with the Patriot system. The Ukrainian president did not specify how many missiles are awaiting approval.
The statement indicates that the issue is not necessarily a new US commitment, but a delay in authorising or releasing equipment connected to existing supply discussions. The exact administrative and logistical status of the missiles was not detailed in the information available.
Why air defence remains central to Ukraine’s war effort
Ukraine has repeatedly said that it needs more interceptors to defend against a combination of threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and attack drones. Patriot systems are particularly important because they can engage some of the most difficult aerial targets.
Zelenskyy said that Russian forces had launched 48 missiles, including ballistic missiles, against Ukraine during the previous week. He also reported approximately 1,600 guided aerial bombs and nearly 2,300 attack drones over the same period.
Those figures were presented by the Ukrainian president and were not independently verified in the supplied report. They nonetheless illustrate the scale of the air threat Kyiv says it is managing.
Ukraine’s air-defence requirements extend beyond frontline protection. Interceptors are also used to defend population centres, energy infrastructure and other critical sites. Limited stocks mean that Ukrainian commanders must make difficult decisions about which locations receive protection and when.
How Patriot and NASAMS systems differ
Patriot is a long-range air-defence system capable of countering several types of aerial threats, including aircraft and some ballistic missiles. NASAMS is another ground-based system used to protect airspace and important sites.
Both systems depend on a continuing supply of compatible interceptors. Possessing launchers alone is not enough to maintain a sustained defensive shield, particularly during periods of intensive Russian attacks.
European support and the NATO purchasing mechanism
Zelenskyy said Ukraine was seeking the release of Patriot interceptors that European countries had already approved. The statement highlights the complex chain behind military assistance: funding, national approvals, US production and stock availability may all affect when equipment reaches Ukraine.
Ukraine receives much of its Patriot ammunition through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, commonly known as PURL. The initiative helps allies and partners fund the purchase of US-made military equipment and munitions for Ukraine.
NATO said that, by June 2026, participating allies had committed more than $6 billion in defence equipment through the scheme. The figure covers equipment and munitions funded through the initiative rather than the specific shipment mentioned by Zelenskyy.
US stockpiles and wider military demands
The reported delay comes amid pressure on global munitions inventories. The supplied report links that pressure to US military operations in Iran.
A US Department of Defence inspector general report published in September said American forces had used munitions valued at $22.3 billion between the start of Operation Epic Fury in late February and the end of June. The report did not establish how that spending affected the specific Patriot and NASAMS deliveries under discussion.
Yurii Ihnat, a Ukrainian military colonel, said in an interview published on Monday that the number of Patriot missiles used in the Middle East could have supported several years of combat operations in Ukraine. His assessment was reported as an interview comment, and the precise comparison could not be independently assessed from the available material.
What happens next
Ukraine is expected to continue diplomatic and military discussions with Washington and European governments. Zelenskyy said his team had been told to raise the issue with the United States again, while talks with other countries holding relevant stocks are also continuing.
The immediate question is whether the outstanding approval will be granted and, if so, how quickly the missiles can be transferred. Delivery timing may depend on the formal authorisation, the availability of compatible interceptors, transport arrangements and the operational needs of supplying countries.
For European governments, the issue also underlines the challenge of sustaining air-defence support while managing their own stockpiles and broader security commitments. NATO’s purchasing arrangements may help coordinate funding, but they cannot by themselves remove production and availability constraints.
Why this matters for Europe
The dispute is directly connected to European security because Russian attacks on Ukraine continue to affect the wider region’s defence planning. European governments are balancing support for Ukraine with efforts to strengthen national air defence and replenish their own military inventories.
For Ireland, which is militarily neutral and does not operate Patriot systems, the development is primarily relevant through European security, humanitarian concerns and the wider debate about support for Ukraine. It does not represent an Irish Government decision or an EU-wide weapons authorisation.
Conclusion
Zelenskyy’s statement puts renewed attention on a reported delay involving Patriot and NASAMS interceptors for Ukraine. The number of missiles awaiting approval remains unclear, and the available information does not establish when a decision or delivery will occur. The next step is continued engagement between Kyiv, Washington and European partners as Ukraine seeks to reinforce its air defences against ongoing Russian attacks.