US approves potential Patriot missiles sale to Ukraine

The Trump administration has authorized the sale of 500 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, according to the state department. The decision, which must still be reviewed by Congress, aims to bolster Ukraine's air and missile defense capabilities in the face of escalating Russian threats. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the delivery of these weapons could take years.

Ukraine's struggle for adequate defensive weaponry gained prominence following the administration's controversial fuel deal with Russia. Tensions between the two nations also arose from alleged restrictions on satellite internet services and intelligence sharing. Yet, these disputes were reportedly eased following Zelensky's discussions with US envoys in Oslo on October 20th.

The state department noted that the missile sale would be funded through contributions from Ukraine's allies, rather than directly from the US budget.