Washington says it’s standing with Kyiv, but not necessarily footing the bill.
As Russia intensifies its aerial assaults, the United States has come out swinging in defence of its support for Ukraine’s air defence, denying accusations it’s been holding back on Patriot missile systems.
“We want them to have air defence capabilities, absolutely,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce at a press briefing on 10 June. “We want them to be able to defend themselves against incoming missiles.”
The comments come amid growing speculation that the U.S. might be quietly blocking Ukraine from acquiring the powerful Patriot missile systems, speculation Bruce called flat-out false.
“I categorically deny that we’re preventing Ukraine from doing anything,” she stated firmly. “On the contrary, it’s always been the opposite.”
She also stressed that discussions are underway between European countries to provide Kyiv with more air defence support, and that separate talks are ongoing about purchasing additional ammunition. But when pressed on details surrounding Patriot missile deals, Bruce deflected, saying the matter falls under the Pentagon’s jurisdiction.
Not Free, But Not Forbidden Either
The question of whether the U.S. is actively supporting or simply not obstructing Ukraine’s attempts to buy Patriot systems has become a hot-button issue.
Back in April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine was ready to buy 10 Patriot systems from the United States, a deal that could total around $15 billion. But with the Trump administration repeatedly declaring that no free aid will be offered to Ukraine, the mood in Kyiv has grown tense.
On 20 May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Washington is coordinating with NATO allies to get Ukraine more Patriots, but clarified that the U.S. has no extra systems to hand out.
Then came a key report from The Washington Post on 26 May, which claimed that while the U.S. is open to selling Patriot systems to Ukraine, it won’t be giving them away. A Ukrainian official quoted in the report put it bluntly:
“They won’t block the transfer. But they won’t give them away for free.”
Zelenskyy, clearly frustrated, reiterated on 7 June that Ukraine is still waiting on a formal response from Washington regarding its purchase proposal.
The Bigger Picture
Despite the diplomatic wrangling, the U.S. continues to call itself “Ukraine’s biggest supporter and defender.” But support doesn’t necessarily mean subsidy.
While Washington denies stalling the sale of critical defence systems, it remains to be seen whether a deal, or the missiles, will actually land in Ukrainian hands.
For now, Ukraine keeps waiting… and the skies remain hostile.
