NATO pushes back on claims of delayed Patriot missiles for Kyiv

NATO has denied that a shortage of interceptor missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot air defence systems in January 2026 — which resulted in successful strikes on parts of the country’s energy infrastructure — was caused by delayed payments from European donors or other financial complications.

The clarification was provided by a NATO official involved in the PURL mechanism during a briefing with journalists in Brussels, Ukrainian media reported. The comments came ahead of a meeting of defence ministers from allied countries.

According to the Alliance representative, there were no delays in deliveries connected to funding issues. NATO also dismissed the broader claim that shipments of air defence systems had been “delayed.”

“From our perspective and from the US perspective, there have been no delays in deliveries. Everything supplied under the PURL program is moving as quickly as US logistics chains allow. There have been no additional pauses in these deliveries,” the official emphasised.

He further explained that the way US air defence supplies are structured makes it impossible for financial matters to affect delivery timelines. “Yes, we are seeking funding from allies and partners for future packages, but there is no direct link between financing and deliveries. The US does not delay shipments for financial reasons,” the NATO representative stated.

At the same time, the official acknowledged that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s concerns are understandable. Ukraine is facing a genuine shortage of key munitions, including PAC-3 and PAC-2 interceptor missiles. Even the PURL program, he noted, cannot fully supply the necessary quantities, particularly when Russia overwhelms Ukrainian air defences with large-scale missile attacks.

NATO also stressed that the precise arrival date of individual missiles cannot be forecast due to logistical variables rather than funding constraints. “Missiles are arriving as quickly as the US can deliver them. But it is understandable that Zelenskyy is frustrated because he needs far more,” the official concluded.

Earlier, President Zelenskyy criticised Europe over what he described as funding problems. “The PURL tranche (for purchasing weapons in the US) was not paid. The missiles did not arrive,” he said.

By Tamilla Hasanova