Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Washington of deliberately holding up deliveries of interceptor missiles, speaking just before talks with a senior US envoy. He told US senators that the Pentagon is delaying missiles that European countries have already paid for, and that the shipment is waiting on a signature from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A shipment waiting for a signature
Zelenskiy said several European countries are ready to hand over Patriot interceptors from their own stockpiles. Those transfers still need US approval, because the systems are American-built and re-export requires consent.
"The missiles are ready, and they could already be in Ukraine," he said. "But unfortunately, there is still no approval."
The complaint follows a difficult week for Kyiv. Zelenskiy said Ukraine received no early warning of heavy Russian missile strikes that hit energy facilities around the capital region. Washington denies making any changes to intelligence sharing.
A wider rift over aid and warnings
Relations between the two governments have soured over military aid, intelligence and public messaging. President Donald Trump also denied ordering a reduction in speeds on the government-controlled Starshield satellite network after Elon Musk said such an order could only have come from the White House.
The rift widened when Trump partly lifted sanctions to strike a diesel supply deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has also criticised Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and described Zelenskiy as a warmonger.
"Zelenskiy 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."
Shuttle diplomacy in Oslo and Moscow
White House envoy Steve Witkoff was reported to be travelling to Oslo to meet Zelenskiy and European leaders, then to Russia to meet Putin. The trip is an attempt to restart talks that have stalled for months as Washington shifted attention to the war with Iran.
Trump separately said he is ready to meet Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China next month to discuss denuclearisation, with the Ukraine war also on the table. The Kremlin said the idea had been mentioned. For Kyiv, that format raises the prospect of decisions about Ukraine being taken in a room where Ukraine is not present.