Trump admin approves potential Patriot missile sale to Ukraine

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Friday approved the potential sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, the State Department said.

The approval, which will go to Congress for review, comes after weeks of complaints by Ukrainian authorities that their supplies of the interceptor missiles were dwindling.

"The proposed sale will improve Ukraine's capability to meet current and future threats by improving its integrated air and missile defence capabilities," the department said in a statement.

Patriot missiles are among the most important weapons Ukraine has for intercepting Russian drones and missiles.

The statement did not provide an estimated delivery date for the weapons.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe," the State Department said.

US-Ukraine tensions spiked earlier this month after Washington struck a diesel fuel deal with Russia. Ukraine also said the US was slowing its access to satellite internet services and had stopped some intelligence sharing.

Tensions eased after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with US envoys in Oslo on Oct 20.

The State Department said the weapons sale would be paid for through donations from Ukraine's allies, not with US funds.