Trump holds up Patriot missiles for Ukraine as Russian strikes intensify, officials say

The dispute raises the risk of further escalation in a conflict that has increasingly targeted energy infrastructure on both sides, with the clearest risk for oil to the upside. Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and diesel facilities have been a source of supply concern in product markets, and if Washington’s pressure on Kyiv to halt them fails, those attacks could intensify, tightening diesel supply further at a time when the Iran war is already keeping crude elevated. A weaker Ukrainian air defence could also leave its own energy system more exposed to Russian strikes. Against that, Friday’s US waiver of Russian oil and gas sanctions could ease some supply concerns if it allows more Russian barrels to reach buyers. On balance, the risk skew for oil, and especially diesel, leans higher while the conflict escalates.--As Russian missiles fall on Kyiv, the interceptors Ukraine needs to stop them are stuck awaiting Washington’s sign-off, and the US has not said why.Summary:The Trump administration has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine, officials said on Monday, the Washington Post (gated) reported.President Volodymyr Zelensky said the US is delaying Patriots that allies have already paid for under PURL, a NATO-coordinated purchasing mechanism, and that only part of the order has been approved.Zelensky put US supply at about 12 interceptors a month, which he said is roughly a quarter of the rate under the previous administration; the US has not confirmed his figures.Ukraine’s Patriot stocks are reported to be critically low or exhausted, as Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv on consecutive nights.Zelensky said he offered to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel infrastructure in exchange for more missiles.The US has not publicly explained the delay.The Trump administration has not approved the transfer of Patriot interceptor missiles that Ukraine needs to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks, officials said on Monday, the Washington Post reported.The newspaper said the delay comes as President Donald Trump has, in its words, embraced Russia and criticised Ukraine in recent weeks. The US government has not publicly explained the hold-up.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg at the weekend that the US is delaying Patriot missiles that allies have already paid for through PURL, a NATO-coordinated mechanism under which allied governments fund purchases of US-made weapons for Ukraine. He said Washington had approved only part of the order and described the delay as not a technical issue. Zelensky said the US is now supplying about 12 interceptors a month, which he put at roughly a quarter of the rate under the previous administration. The US has not confirmed those figures.The dispute comes as Ukraine’s air defences are under severe strain. Ukrainian officials and media reports have described Patriot stocks as critically low, with one report saying available missiles had been exhausted. Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv on consecutive nights on 18 and 19 October.Energy has become central to the tensions. Zelensky said he offered to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russian diesel infrastructure in exchange for more Patriot missiles, but that Washington wants the strikes to end without such a trade. The administration has threatened to restrict military and intelligence support unless Kyiv halts attacks on Russian oil refineries, according to reports.The missile delay also follows Trump’s decision on Friday to sign an executive order waiving Russia-related sanctions and tariffs, including penalties on purchases of Russian oil and gas, that had been due to take effect under legislation he signed last month. Trump said the waiver served US national interests. Zelensky said the move would only help Russia.For energy markets, the risk is further escalation. Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have been a source of concern for diesel supply, and the loss of US support could leave Ukraine more exposed to attacks on its own infrastructure. With the Iran war already keeping crude prices elevated, any widening of the conflict’s energy front would add to upward pressure on oil, particularly diesel.Attention now turns to whether Washington approves the outstanding missiles and whether Kyiv scales back its strikes on Russian energy facilities.  This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.