"Contracts on the Table": Why the Pentagon Chief Is Delaying the Patriot Missiles
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is delaying approval of a batch of interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot systems. Officials in Kyiv suspect that the delivery of weapons already paid for by allies is being deliberately blocked as a means of political pressure.
The Kyiv Independent reports this, citing Ukrainian officials and military officers.
Attempts are being made to pressure Ukraine
According to sources, the relevant contracts for the supply of ballistic missile interceptors have remained unsigned at the Pentagon for quite some time. This is happening amid daily Russian ballistic missile strikes on civilian infrastructure, as Ukraine’s stockpile of air defense systems is running low.
Hegseth has contracts for Patriot missiles on his desk. He isn’t signing them,
– emphasized a Ukrainian official speaking on condition of anonymity.
The publication’s sources link the delay to tensions between Kyiv and the Donald Trump administration over strikes on Russian oil refineries. The U.S. president has repeatedly criticized these operations amid domestic issues with fuel prices.
At the same time, the military is reporting malfunctions in ballistic missile early warning systems that rely on U.S. intelligence data.
In addition, disruptions to the Starshield and Starlink services have significantly hampered the use of interceptor drones against enemy air targets.
Supply Volumes and Allies’ Stance
Media sources did not disclose Ukraine’s current weapons stockpiles for security reasons, but described the expected shipment of missiles as “substantial.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that the U.S. is currently providing Ukraine with 12 interceptor missiles each month.
The main mechanism is the PURL, through which allies finance the purchase of weapons from the U.S. for Ukraine. NATO representatives assured that support under the program continues, and a U.S. government official called claims of deliberate blocking “false.”
As previously reported,The U.S. is delaying shipments “vital weapons” for Ukraine. The president emphasized that political agreements with the Americans have not been implemented at the working level.