Zelensky: 30 Days Pass Without Pentagon Sign-Off on Missiles

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that the United States has not approved the transfer of key air defense systems in nearly 30 days. The delay involves specific interceptor stockpiles for Patriot and NASAMS platforms, which Kyiv relies on to counter Russian strikes on energy and civilian sites.

Zelensky directed his team to escalate the issue with Washington. He noted that the United States supplies these assets through a mechanism where NATO allies purchase them under the PURL program. The Ukrainian leader has previously urged faster delivery timelines to secure defenses before winter conditions set in.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the logistics last week. He confirmed that a specific batch of interceptors had not yet arrived but insisted the holdup was not driven by political motives. Rubio’s comments came as a response to growing friction between the two governments over defense spending and strategic alignment.

Tensions have risen following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a diesel deal with Russia. Trump also criticized Zelensky for continuing attacks on Russian refineries. These diplomatic strains coincide with operational hurdles for the Ukrainian military, including reported gaps in US intelligence sharing.

Ukraine also experienced disruptions in its Starlink military communications. The service was throttled for several days, which hindered air defense coordination. Reuters reported that the order to restrict access to Starshield originated from the White House, although both SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US officials publicly attributed the decision to the other party.