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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of deliberately delaying deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles and AIM-9X missiles for NASAMS systems. The allegation, reported by Axios from a call transcript, has not been independently confirmed in the source material; the timing and reasons for the hold-up remain unclear.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the United States of deliberately delaying approval for deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles and AIM-9X missiles used by NASAMS air defense systems, according to Axios, which cited a transcript of his video call with US senators. Zelensky said Ukraine had almost no American missiles left, but the report does not independently establish why the deliveries were held up or when they might arrive.
Zelensky said that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had deliberately withheld approval for the missile deliveries. He described the weapons as missiles that NATO countries had already paid for. The available report does not give quantities, payment details, delivery schedules or the specific steps required for approval.
In the call, Zelensky said the situation suggested a political decision to slow support for Ukraine. He said Kyiv wanted to know what was happening, why it was happening and what would follow. Those comments are Zelensky’s characterization of the delay; the source material includes no response from Hegseth or the US Defense Department.
Zelensky also raised other concerns about US support. He said Ukraine had failed on three occasions over the previous week to receive US warnings about Russian ballistic missile strikes, and that access to Starlink and its military version, Starshield, had been partly restricted. The report does not provide further details about those incidents or restrictions.
Air Defense Deliveries Under Scrutiny
Patriot and NASAMS systems are part of Ukraine’s air defense against Russian attacks. If deliveries of the missiles used by those systems are delayed, Ukraine’s ability to replenish its air defense stocks could be affected. Zelensky’s statement that the country had almost no American missiles left underscores the concern he presented to lawmakers, though the report provides no inventory figures to verify the size of any shortage.
The allegation also places attention on US approval processes and allied commitments: Zelensky said NATO countries had paid for the missiles, while blaming a US official for holding up authorization. Without a US account of the delay or a published delivery timetable, it is not possible to establish whether the issue reflects a policy decision, administrative or supply constraints, or another cause.
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Senators Signal Support for Ukraine
The call included Republican and Democratic senators, Axios reported. Their participation matters because Zelensky was raising concerns directly with members of Congress, although the report does not identify all attendees or specify the call’s date.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis said Congress remained committed to supporting Ukraine and European allies. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal described bipartisan support as clear and said senators would express it through upcoming action. Their comments indicate stated congressional backing, but they do not confirm that the missile approvals have been granted or that deliveries are scheduled.
“All of this suggests that some political decision has been made to slow down support for us. We want to understand what is happening, why it’s happening, and where all of this is heading.”
— Volodymyr Zelensky, as quoted in the call transcript cited by Axios
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Reason for the Hold-Up Unverified
The source material reports Zelensky’s accusation but does not include a response from Hegseth, the Pentagon or the White House. It also does not independently verify that approval was deliberately withheld, explain the decision-making process, or establish whether the missiles had been formally scheduled for delivery.
The number of missiles involved, the length of any delay and the expected arrival dates are not reported. The allegations about missed warnings and partially restricted satellite services are also not accompanied by technical details or comment from the US. The senators’ statements of support do not resolve those questions.
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Awaiting US Response and Delivery Details
The next developments to watch are whether US officials address Zelensky’s account, clarify the status of approvals and provide a delivery schedule. The senators’ promised upcoming action could offer a further indication of congressional support, but neither Tillis nor Blumenthal specified what that action would be.
Until more information is released, the central facts available are that Zelensky made the accusation during a call with senators and said Ukraine’s stocks were nearly depleted. Whether the deliveries are delayed, why, and when they may reach Ukraine remain unresolved.
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Key Questions
What did Zelensky accuse the United States of doing?
He accused the US of deliberately withholding approval for deliveries of Patriot interceptors and AIM-9X missiles used by NASAMS systems. The allegation was reported by Axios, citing a transcript of his call with senators.
Why do the missiles matter to Ukraine?
They are used in air defense systems that help Ukraine respond to aerial attacks. Zelensky said Ukraine had almost no American missiles left, but the report gives no figures for its stocks.
Has the US confirmed that it is delaying the deliveries?
No US response appears in the source material. The report presents Zelensky’s accusation and does not independently confirm the reason for, or status of, the approvals.
What did the senators say?
Republican Thom Tillis said Congress remained committed to supporting Ukraine and its European allies. Democrat Richard Blumenthal said bipartisan support was clear and would be reflected in upcoming action, without specifying what that action would be.
Source: rss
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