Kyiv Independent says Hegseth has not approved allied-funded Patriot delivery to Ukraine

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not approved the transfer of a significant batch of Patriot interceptors already paid for by Ukraine’s allies, the Kyiv Independent reported on October 19, citing Ukrainian officials and military sources.

The sources said the supply documents were awaiting Hegseth’s signature. They suspect political pressure from Washington, an assessment attributed to the Kyiv Independent’s sources rather than an announced U.S. position.

The report comes amid a dispute over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries. Donald Trump has accused Volodymyr Zelenskyy of resisting an end to the conflict and disregarding requests to stop those attacks.

On Sunday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disputed Zelenskyy’s statements about U.S. government responsibility for Starlink restrictions and a suspension of intelligence sharing.

On October 15, CNN reported that Ukraine had exhausted its stocks of Patriot interceptor missiles.