Zelenskyy accuses Pentagon of delaying missiles already paid for by Ukraine’s allies

The Ukrainian president told a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers that a shipment of missiles purchased under a NATO-coordinated program was awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s approval.

Zelenskyy told a group of U.S. lawmakers that a shipment of missiles was awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s approval. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of U.S. lawmakers during an online meeting, Oct. 19, 2026. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was awaiting air defense missiles paid for by its allies. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Pentagon was delaying deliveries of air defense missiles already paid for, accusing the U.S. of a politically motivated holdup as Russia continued missile and drone attacks. Zelenskyy told a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers Monday that a shipment of missiles purchased by Ukraine’s allies under a NATO-coordinated program was awaiting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s approval.

The missiles were acquired through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, a NATO-coordinated program through which allied countries finance purchases of American weapons for Ukraine. As of Monday, Ukraine had almost no U.S.-supplied Patriot interceptors remaining, raising concerns about its ability to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, Zelenskyy said. European countries were also waiting for U.S. authorization to transfer Patriot interceptors from their own stockpiles, he said. “So the missiles are ready and they could already be in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. “But unfortunately, there is still no approval.” The missile delays coincided with restrictions on satellite communications and interruptions to U.S. warnings