‘Nearly a Month’: Zelensky Presses US Over Delayed Missile Deliveries

Ukraine is waiting for missiles used by its Patriot and NASAMS air-defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv has been waiting nearly a month for US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to sign off on them. The delay matters because Ukraine depends on these interceptors to defend against Russian air attacks.

The article does not describe the precise US approval procedure or the signature’s legal authority. It does establish that Hegseth’s sign-off is the remaining step identified by Zelensky before the requested missiles can move forward. Zelensky instructed Ukrainian officials to raise the issue with Washington again.

The delay comes as Ukraine faces an acute shortage of interceptors. Zelensky said Ukraine received only 24 Patriot missiles from the United States over 90 days, while needing about 350 each month against Russian ballistic attacks. Kyiv is also seeking PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles from European countries and other partners, while preparing for a November Ramstein meeting.

Ukraine’s air-defense shortage is severe. Zelensky said the country received only 24 Patriot interceptors from the United States over 90 days. He said Ukraine needs around 350 Patriot missiles every month to counter Russian ballistic attacks. The delivered amount therefore falls far below the stated monthly requirement.

The article gives another measure of the pressure. Zelensky has asked European partners for 300 interceptors for the winter. Ukraine is also negotiating with countries that hold PAC-2 and PAC-3 stocks. These efforts show that Kyiv cannot depend on one supply route while its existing missiles are being used in combat.

The shortage remains unresolved. A US delivery is awaiting Hegseth’s signature, and European stockpiles have not been easy to access, with resistance reported from Greece. Officials are expected to discuss faster implementation of support decisions at the next Ramstein-format meeting in November.

Interceptors are central to Ukraine’s effort to protect people and essential systems from Russian strikes. If supplies remain too low, Ukrainian forces may have fewer missiles available when attacks arrive. That would increase the danger to cities, civilians, and energy infrastructure, although the article does not quantify the likely damage.

The article describes repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector and says repair crews are working almost nonstop. Energy companies are using equipment reserves to restore damaged infrastructure. Air defense helps limit the damage by attempting to stop incoming threats before they reach those facilities and populated areas.

The shortage therefore has both immediate and longer-term consequences. Fewer interceptors could make it harder to defend critical sites during future attacks and place more pressure on repair teams. Zelensky called every support package an opportunity to protect lives and urged agencies to communicate replenishment needs quickly.

Patriot and NASAMS matter because they give Ukraine dedicated systems for engaging airborne threats. The article identifies Patriot interceptors as important against Russian ballistic attacks and says Ukraine is waiting for missiles for both Patriot and NASAMS systems. Their ammunition shortage has become a major operational concern.

Patriot crews have adapted their use during the full-scale invasion. They can deploy from ambush positions, engage targets, and relocate quickly. Ukrainian operators also usually fire one expensive interceptor per target, rather than using several missiles when one may be enough. This helps preserve a limited stock.

The article does not give a technical comparison of Patriot and NASAMS. Established defense knowledge identifies Patriot as a system designed to counter aircraft and missiles, while NASAMS is commonly used against aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones. Together, such systems can strengthen Ukraine’s protection, but only if enough interceptors are available.

Ukraine is seeking PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles from Europe and other partners because its current supply is insufficient. Zelensky said Ukraine received only 24 Patriot interceptors from the United States over 90 days, while needing around 350 per month against Russian ballistic attacks. Relying on the United States alone would leave a large gap.

The alternative route involves countries that already hold PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. Ukraine is negotiating with European states and other partners to obtain those stocks. The goal is to add interceptors from available inventories rather than wait for one delayed American approval or a single production pipeline.

The effort faces obstacles. The article says attempts to secure missiles from European stockpiles have met resistance, including from Greece. Zelensky has requested 300 interceptors from European partners for winter and plans to press the issue through ongoing talks and the November Ramstein-format meeting.

Ukrainian air-defense crews have changed how they operate Patriot systems to stretch scarce and expensive interceptors. Instead of keeping launchers in fixed positions, they can set up ambushes, engage incoming targets, and move quickly. Relocation helps them avoid detection after firing.

Their ammunition discipline is equally important. Ukrainian crews typically use one missile per target. The article contrasts this with air-defense forces in the Middle East, which reportedly fired as many as eight interceptors at one target, including relatively inexpensive Shahed drones. Fewer missiles per engagement preserve stocks for later attacks.

Yuriy Ihnat said these tactics were developed during Russia’s full-scale invasion. A senior Ukrainian officer also said Gulf forces used excessive numbers of interceptors and that Ukraine’s battlefield experience was not fully incorporated, despite Kyiv sharing operational data with allies. The approach cannot eliminate the shortage, but it slows depletion.

An air-defense interceptor is a missile launched to stop an incoming weapon or drone. Radar and other sensors detect and track the threat. A command system calculates its path and sends guidance instructions so the interceptor can approach the target before it reaches a city, military position, or infrastructure site.

Near the target, the interceptor’s guidance system helps it steer accurately. It may destroy the threat by exploding a warhead nearby, sending fragments into it, or striking it directly. The exact method varies by system and missile type. The article does not describe the technical process, so these details come from established air-defense knowledge.

The article shows why this mechanism matters operationally. Ukraine needs large numbers of interceptors, especially against Russian ballistic attacks, but its supplies are limited. Ukrainian crews therefore try to match one missile to one target and relocate after firing, preserving ammunition and reducing the chance that launch positions are detected.