Pentagon Approval Gap: Zelensky Reports 30-Day Wait for Interceptors

Ukrainian air defense units have operated for nearly a month without new interceptor stock, a gap President Volodymyr Zelensky said stems from a missing signature in Washington. The delay leaves defense systems running low just as Russian attacks on energy grids and civilian sites increase in frequency.

Zelensky stated on social media on Monday that the wait has persisted for almost 30 days. He identified US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as the official who has not yet authorized the shipment of missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems. The president instructed his team to raise the issue with American counterparts again.

The supply chain relies on a program called PURL, under which NATO allies purchase weapons for Ukraine. Zelensky has repeatedly urged the United States to accelerate deliveries before winter weather complicates logistics. The recent holdup has strained relations between the two countries.

Tensions rose earlier this week after President Donald Trump announced a diesel agreement with Russia. Trump also criticized Zelensky for not halting Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. These diplomatic frictions coincide with operational hurdles on the ground.

Ukraine reported temporary lapses in US intelligence sharing regarding Russian missile trajectories. Separately, the military version of Starlink, known as Starshield, was throttled for several days, which disrupted air defense coordination. Reuters reported the order to limit bandwidth originated inside the White House, a claim disputed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and US officials who pointed to each other for decision authority.