The State Department announced today that it has approved the potential sale of 500 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles to Ukraine, with an estimated price tag of $2.1 billion to be paid entirely by partners and allies.
Ukraine has requested to acquire five hundred (500) PAC-3 missile segments along with classified and unclassified components, according to a State Department congressional notification posted online.
The notification states that Kyiv could purchase the high‑tech missiles through donations from Canada, Germany, and Norway via the JUMPSTART program and national funds, financed by the European Union’s Ukraine Support Loan. No U.S. funds are involved in this sale.
The potential sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe,” the notice says.
However, lingering tensions between Kyiv and Washington persist, particularly regarding Patriot missile deliveries. On Oct. 19, The Washington Post reported that the U.S. appeared to delay the transfer of Patriot interceptors amid a falling out between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A few days earlier, CNN reported that Kyiv had run out of interceptors, leaving the country more vulnerable to deadly Russian missile and drone attacks.
On Oct. 25, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine and the United States had resolved two other recent sticking points—the surprise disruptions in Starlink/Starshield connectivity and the quality of U.S.-provided missile warning information—but he appeared to criticize the U.S. for dragging its feet on Patriot deliveries.
“The issue of air defense remains critical. There is progress on missiles for Patriot systems, but progress is moving very slowly—more slowly than Russian missiles fly,” he said. “You cannot simply say, ‘Yes, we will give you the missiles,’ and then not deliver them for a month or two. That does not work.”
The embattled leader previously told ABC News that Ukraine would need 350 interceptors per month to properly defend its territory.
Foreign Military Sales notifications are generally early steps in what can be years‑long processes. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how today’s announcement may affect Kyiv’s near‑term interceptor problem.
FMS deals are also typically not final when announced, as quantities and prices can change as contract negotiations continue. Additionally, lawmakers could step in and delay or block the deal, though that is less likely given the remaining bipartisan support for Ukraine.