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A Patriot air defense missile system is displayed at the German Armed Forces Day event held at Laage Air Base on the grounds of Rostock-Laage Airport in Germany on June 6 (local time). / EPA, Yonhap

The Donald Trump administration is withholding approval for the transfer of interceptor missiles needed to protect Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks, officials stated, The Washington Post reported on the 19th (local time).

One U.S. government official and three people familiar with the matter explained that approval from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is required to transfer a portion of U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles held by nations friendly to Ukraine.

The United States supplies such weapons to foreign countries on the condition that any third-party transfer requires approval from the Pentagon.

A Ukrainian official stated in an interview with the WP last week that the country possesses only a handful of interceptor missiles remaining.

Officials conveyed that while Secretary Hegseth has not formally rejected the missile transfers, he has also not completed the procedures required for approval, even as he continues to approve certain other forms of assistance to Ukraine.

Relations between the two nations are worsening as President Trump has repeatedly lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent days.

By easing sanctions on Russia—such as recently permitting global market transactions of Russian diesel—while simultaneously restricting aid to Ukraine, the U.S. appears to be exerting pressure on Kyiv to cooperate in war-ending negotiations.

President Zelenskyy stated on Telegram on the 19th that Russia had launched 16 ballistic missiles toward Ukraine the previous day, noting, "Once again, our allies gave no warning."

He criticized, "We must call an aggressor an aggressor and help Ukraine protect lives," adding, "When missile supplies for Ukrainian air defenses are cut off while Russia benefits from sanctions relief or deferrals, this, regrettably, means our allies are turning a blind eye to reality."

On the same day, President Trump told reporters at the White House in Washington, D.C., "President Zelenskyy isn't doing much to improve the situation," adding, "He doesn't seem to want to stop it."

He further remarked, "I think it might be time for someone else to step up and negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."

                                                                                                            Kim Hyun-min