The delay comes as Kiev reports dwindling interceptor stocks and disruptions to U.S. intelligence sharing and satellite connectivity.

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tacitly acknowledged that the Pentagon has yet to authorize the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine.

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“These things are always reviewed based on whether they are needed somewhere else or whether they should even remain in Europe,” he said, referring to the delay in delivering the weapons, although he insisted that the U.S. was not deliberately seeking to harm Ukrainians.

Previously, The Washington Post reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had yet to approve the delivery of interceptor missiles purchased by European allies.

During a virtual meeting with U.S. lawmakers on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said several partners were prepared to transfer the weapons and were only waiting for the Pentagon’s authorization. “The missiles are ready and could already be in Ukraine, but unfortunately, there is still no approval,” he said.

BIG: Zelensky confirms the Kyiv Independent’s reporting, telling U.S. congressmen the Pentagon is refusing to approve the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine.

The weapons have already been paid for through the U.S.-NATO PURL program, Zelensky said. https://t.co/kKffhG2qcW pic.twitter.com/8YkiPc2hSO

— Tim Zadorozhnyy (@timzadorozhnyy) October 20, 2026

Washington retains control over shipments of Patriot missiles under an agreement requiring U.S. government approval for any transfer to third countries.

The Patriot systems are air defense and missile defense systems. Last week, a source familiar with the situation told CNN that Ukraine had exhausted its stockpiles of these missiles.

This year, the U.S. war on Iran has reduced the available quantities of these weapons. In April, Zelensky had expressed concern that a prolonged or expanded conflict could deprive Ukraine of the Patriots it had received from the U.S. and that its allies had paid for.

After a private meeting with Zelensky in July, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would grant Kiev the license needed to manufacture U.S. Patriot missile systems on its own.

Zelensky rushed in to Brussels EU HQ for urgent talks after his ‘BLUNT remarks’ to Trump

Walks right past cameras in silence, unable to hide his nerves pic.twitter.com/U40Gei6Uww

— RT Intl (@RT_on_X) October 15, 2026

In September, Zelensky confirmed that Trump had authorized the delivery of licenses for the production of Patriots on Ukrainian territory, although no further details have emerged so far.

Since then, relations between the two governments have deteriorated amid Trump’s accusations that Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities are responsible for the current rise in diesel prices, the signing of an agreement to purchase diesel from Russia, and the easing of sanctions on Moscow.

Zelensky’s complaints about delays in the delivery of Patriot interceptors come after he also reported disruptions to the flow of U.S. intelligence and restrictions on connectivity to Starshield, Starlink’s military satellite system.

He has attributed all of this to an alleged intention by the Trump administration to force Ukraine to capitulate to Russia, an allegation Washington denies.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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