US greenlights $2.1bn Patriot missile sale to Ukraine

The United States says it has approved the possible sale of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine ⁠for an estimated $2.1bn. The package of missiles, parts and support, announced on Friday by the US State Department, would be one of the most significant steps to supply defensive weapons to Kyiv since the start of the second administration of President Donald Trump in January 2025. The Patriot system is the most effective weapon to counter fast-moving ballistic missiles. Delayed missile deliveries, however, have stoked US-Ukraine tensions after Trump announced a diesel deal ⁠with Russia and criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his unwillingness to stop attacks on Russian refineries.