Zelensky says Pentagon is delaying missile deliveries to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Pentagon is delaying deliveries of missiles for Ukraine's air defense. He gave no details, writing about it on the social network X.

According to Ukrainian media citing unnamed officials, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has still not approved the transfer of a large batch of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, which Ukraine needs to shoot down Russian ballistic missiles. One source said Ukraine's allies have already paid for the missiles. Kyiv, it is reported, suspects that Washington is holding back the weapons deliberately in order to put pressure on Ukraine.

The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment, and one US official called Kyiv's claims untrue.

Zelensky wrote: “Ukraine's defense minister, foreign minister and the president's office team have received urgent instructions to contact partners who can support our air defense as quickly as possible. There are political agreements that have not been implemented at the working level. At the level of the US Department of Defense, there is also a delay in some types of vital supplies.”

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz