US allegedly holding up delivery of Patriot air defence missiles, Zelenskyy says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the United States of deliberately delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles to his war-torn country ahead of reported talks with a top US envoy on Tuesday.

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured over military aid and intelligence sharing, with Zelenskyy saying on Monday that Ukraine received no early warning of powerful Russian missile strikes that targeted energy facilities in the capital region.

US-led diplomatic efforts to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II have stalled in recent months, as Washington has shifted focus towards the war with Iran.

Zelenskyy told US senators on Monday that "the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles" already paid for by European countries and that the shipment was waiting for US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's signature.

He said several European countries were ready to transfer Patriot interceptor missiles from their own stockpiles but were still awaiting US approval.

"The missiles are ready and they could already be in Ukraine," Zelenskyy said. "But unfortunately, there is still no approval."