US approves possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine

WASHINGTON — The US State Department on Friday approved a possible $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors and related equipment to Ukraine, with the purchase to be financed entirely by international partners and allies.The department confirmed that no US government funds would be used to finance the sale.”Ukraine will pay for this purchase with donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program and national funds, financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan,” the State Department said in a statement.”No U.S. funds are involved in this sale,” it added.The proposed package includes 500 Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles, classified and unclassified spare parts, logistics assistance and program support.US defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractor.The approval comes amid growing concerns in Kyiv over the availability of air defense interceptors needed to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said Ukraine had received an average of just 12 Patriot interceptors per month from the United States this year, while the country needs to intercept approximately 150 Russian ballistic missiles monthly.On Monday, Zelenskyy said Kyiv had been waiting nearly a month for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve the delivery of missiles for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems.The proposed purchase will be supported through the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan, a financing instrument worth up to €90 billion (more than $100 billion) for 2026 and 2027.Of that amount, €60 billion has been allocated to Ukraine’s defense requirements.The European Commission has approved Ukraine’s use of the loan to purchase US-manufactured Patriot interceptors, providing a financing mechanism for the country’s air defense needs.