Ukraine waits nearly a month for US to sign off on Patriot missiles, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on October 26, 2026, that Ukraine has waited nearly a month for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve critical Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles paid for by NATO allies. The delay coincides with U.S. pressure on Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries, temporary throttling of Starshield satellite service, and gaps in early-warning intelligence, which Ukrainian officials describe as political pressure risking civilian lives ahead of November technical talks.

Delays in US Patriot missile approvals

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on October 26, 2026, that Ukraine has waited nearly a month for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve paid-for Patriot and NASAMS air defense missiles
• ▪Ukraine purchases Patriot interceptor missiles funded by NATO allies through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List program, with the United States delivering 12 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine each month

U.S. missile sign-off delays

• ▪Ukrainian officials described U.S. missile sign-off delays and intelligence disruptions as political pressure from Washington that risks civilian lives amid intensified Russian strikes on infrastructure
• ▪A senior Ukrainian official stated that the batch of Patriot and NASAMS air defense interceptor missiles awaiting sign-off from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was significant

Restoration of U.S. missile warnings

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the restoration of U.S. warnings on Russian ballistic missile strikes resulted from his meeting in Oslo with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff
• ▪U.S. warnings about imminent Russian ballistic missile strikes were fully restored for Ukraine after recent gaps in U.S. intelligence on Russian missile attacks, which American officials previously attributed to bad weather conditions

Disruptions to SpaceX Starshield service

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Starshield satellite internet resumed operating at speeds up to 420 kilometers per hour early on October 24, 2026, following a meeting with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff
• ▪Both SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and U.S. officials publicly stated that decisions regarding limitations on Starlink and Starshield could only have been authorized by the other party
• ▪SpaceX's Starshield satellite service was throttled for days in October 2026, severely hampering Ukrainian military operations and interceptor drone capabilities against Russian attack drones

Tensions over Ukrainian refinery strikes

• ▪Tensions between Ukraine and the United States increased after President Donald Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia and criticized President Volodymyr Zelensky over Ukraine's refinery strikes
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries if Russia stops hitting Ukraine's power infrastructure, the U.S. allows Starshield over Russia, or supplies Ukraine with Patriot missiles
• ▪The United States has pressed Ukraine to suspend strikes on Russian oil refineries, arguing the attacks contributed to high energy prices during the U.S. war on Iran and upcoming midterm elections

Zelensky's stance on diplomatic negotiations

• ▪President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for a trilateral U.S.-brokered meeting with Vladimir Putin, asserting that territorial decisions regarding the nearly 20% of Ukraine occupied by Russia must be discussed exclusively between leaders
• ▪President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that during technical talks in November 2026 between Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington, Ukraine will not discuss limits to its armed forces or enforced post-war neutrality