Finland accuses US of delaying Patriot missile deliveries to Ukraine

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen has accused the United States of withholding political authorization for the delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, despite European allies having already provided the necessary funding.

Speaking to Euronews, Häkkänen emphasized that the delay is not due to a lack of funds or weapons, but rather a lack of political will from Washington. He warned that the situation is critical as winter approaches and Russia prepares for massive attacks against Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously criticized US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, alleging that the authorization for these missile transfers has been delayed for nearly a month.

Under the NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, European allies and Canada purchase American-made weaponry for Ukraine. However, the transfer of such equipment requires final approval from the US Secretary of Defense. Some of the Patriot PAC-3 interceptors destined for Kyiv are part of these European-funded orders.