Zelensky: Pentagon held missile signature for 30 days

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Monday that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth left orders for Patriot and NASAMS interceptors unsigned for nearly a month. Zelensky made the claim in a post on X, noting that Russia increased attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure during this waiting period.

Zelensky said he instructed his team to raise the issue with the American side again. The missiles are part of the NATO purchase program known as PURL, which allows allies to buy US weapons for Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly urged Washington to expedite deliveries before winter arrives.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged last week that a batch of interceptors may not have been delivered. He stated the delay was not for political reasons. This explanation follows recent friction between the two nations, including President Donald Trump's announcement of a diesel deal with Russia and his criticism of Zelensky over continued Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries.

Ukraine reported additional operational difficulties in recent weeks. Kyiv said it experienced gaps in receiving US intelligence on Russian missile attacks. It also reported that Starlink's military version, Starshield, was throttled for several days, which disrupted air defenses and other military operations.

Reuters reported that the order to limit Starshield capacity came from inside the White House. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, and US officials have publicly disagreed on who holds decision-making power. Both sides maintain that only the other party could have authorized the limitations.

The 30-day gap in approvals occurred while Russia stepped up its offensive. Zelensky's public timeline places the delay squarely within the current month of heightened hostilities.