Ukraine Warupdated 1h ago2 min read
Zelenski Accuses the United States of Delaying Interceptor Missile Delivery to Ukraine
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Zelenskiy accuses United States of deliberately delaying interceptor missiles to Ukraine. Missiles are ready but awaiting U.S. approval before delivery to Ukraine.
8 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Marco Rubio Denies US Paused Intelligence Sharing With Ukraine, Zelenskiy Says It Was Deblocked →
Missiles, satellites, and blame
Volodimir Zelenski accused the United States of intentionally delaying the delivery of interceptor missiles that European countries had already paid for, saying the shipment was still awaiting the signature of Pete Hegseth.
Zelenski told American senators that “the Pentagon is delaying the delivery of missiles already paid for” by European countries for Ukraine, and he said the missiles “could already be in Ukraine (…) but unfortunately there is still no approval.”
Zelenski also said Ukrainian troops were being hampered because the satellite systems used on the battlefield were operating at lower speeds, which he said hinders coordination of drone attacks against Russian forces.
Zelenski said he discussed the issue with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and told him the Starshield system “has to be restored,” while ballistic missile interceptors “are necessary to save lives.”
Oslo talks and competing denials
Steve Witkoff was set to travel to Oslo to speak with Zelenski on Tuesday, and the meeting was also scheduled to include Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Store and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with Jared Kushner joining remotely. Jonas Gahr Store said the talks’ goal was “to steer diplomatic efforts in a more constructive direction,” as Zelenski prepared to raise the missile and Starshield issues ahead of the Oslo meeting.
Marco Rubio rejected Zelenski’s allegations about delayed intelligence-sharing, and the dispute over support widened after Zelenski said Kyiv did not receive early warnings of the latest Russian missile strikes against energy plants in the capital. Zelenski said on Monday that “Again, there was no early warning from our partners,” and he added that blocking the supply of air defense missiles while Russia received exemptions or delays regarding sanctions represented a “denial of reality by our partners.”
War pressure and winter stakes
Colonel Markus Reisner said Ukraine faced a decisive phase, warning that “If Ukraine should be at the end of its strength, Russia could force it to capitulate.” Reisner said Russia was trying to cut the “lifelines of the cities” and depopulate them, and he warned that “very hard to imagine how Ukraine will survive this winter” if attacks continued at their current intensity.
“If Ukraine should be at the end of its strength, Russia could force it to capitulate.”
Reisner also described the front line as a stalemate, saying “For months, neither side has achieved a decisive breakthrough,” and he said both sides were shifting escalation to the strategic level and relying more on air strikes. Ukrainian authorities said Russia’s broad airstrikes caused power outages for more than half a million homes, and they reported 10 people killed as the attacks damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine.