Ukraine accuses US Defense Secretary of delaying Patriot missiles to pressure Kyiv

Ukrainian authorities allege that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is refusing to approve a large batch of Patriot interceptor missiles that have been financed by NATO allies, interpreting the stall as political leverage against Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted recent delays in “vital supplies,” suggesting unimplemented political agreements at the working level. The missiles are crucial for defending against Russia’s near-daily ballistic strikes, especially as Ukraine’s early-warning and satellite communications have faced repeated disruptions blamed on weather or software glitches.

Kyiv sources said the missiles are sourced mainly through the NATO Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, which continues to deliver air-defence equipment, though some shipments may experience delays. Ukrainian officials declined to reveal current interceptor inventories for security reasons. While the Pentagon has not commented, a US official dismissed the claims as false, and the dispute coincides with heightened tensions over Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil facilities, which the Trump administration has criticized.