Zelenskyy accuses US of delaying European-paid Patriot missiles

Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the United States on Monday of delaying interceptor missiles already paid for by European countries, saying the shipment was waiting for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s signature (AFP).

In a virtual meeting organised by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Thom Tillis, Zelenskyy said several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptors from their stockpiles but still awaited US approval (Kyiv Post). “The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine,” he said. “But unfortunately, there is still no approval.”

Zelenskyy also said Ukraine received no early warning of Russian strikes on Kyiv-region energy facilities; in the Oct 19 ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, a 21-year-old woman was killed and eight people were injured, the Kyiv Post reported.

Washington denied changing intelligence sharing, and Trump denied ordering a reduction in speeds on the government-owned Starshield network after Elon Musk, whose SpaceX developed it, said such an order could only have come from the White House (SCMP).

Relations soured after Trump partially lifted sanctions for a diesel-supply deal with Putin and slammed Zelenskyy as a warmonger over Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. On Monday, Trump said “Zelensky doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” adding it was “time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine,” and that he was ready to meet Putin and Xi Jinping in China next month.

The accusation lands ahead of Tuesday’s talks: Axios reported White House envoy Steve Witkoff was travelling to Oslo to meet Zelenskyy and European leaders.