Zelenskyy accuses US of delaying Patriot missile shipment

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the US administration of delaying the delivery of crucial missiles needed by Ukraine to defend itself against Russian attacks. 

He told US senators on Monday that "the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles" even though they had already been paid for by Ukraine's European allies. 

The accusations come as Ukraine-US relations are strained. US President Donald Trump has eased sanctions on Russia and directly criticized Zelenskyy, calling for someone else to take his place.

What did Zelenskyy say?

The Ukrainian president said that the US was holding back interceptor missiles, with one shipment only waiting for the signature of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth before it could be sent to Ukraine. 

He also said that Ukraine's European allies had agreed to transfer some of their own Patriot missiles but that this too was pending the green light from the US . 

 "The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. "But unfortunately, there is still no approval."

Earlier on Monday, he said Ukraine had again not received any early warnings about incoming Russian missile strikes. The country is dependent on the ability of US intelligence to spot fast-moving ballistic missiles fired by Russia.  

There are also growing concerns over restrictions affecting Starshield, a military satellite communications network developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Ukrainian military communications and drone operations depend on using Starshield data.

The US government controls access to Starshield, but Trump has denied ordering any restrictions.

US says it's not withholding intelligence

The accusations come as Ukraine faces renewed Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure. In the night between Sunday and Monday, several Russian ballistic missiles struck the Ukrainian capital and its surroundings, cutting off electricity to more than half a million households.

"Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram about the attack. 

The US, though, dismissed claims it was withholding information, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisting that Washington had not paused its intelligence sharing with Kyiv. 

Regarding the easing of sanctions and the diesel deal between Washington and Moscow, Donald Trump strongly criticized Zelenskyy for calling out the deal. 

 "Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about," Trump said on Monday. "To be honest, I think it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

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