Donald Trump has agreed to send hundreds of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, but they may not arrive until 2032.

The US President has approved the sale of 500 vital mobile interceptor surface-to-air missile systems after Volodymyr Zelenskyy pleaded with Western leaders to speed up deliveries.

However, the Ukrainian President warned it could take years before they arrive despite being ‘very persistent’ in pressing Mr Trump to provide him with more Patriot missiles.

As Mr Trump flew to Florida to campaign in the US midterm elections, the State Department said the deal for the advanced PAC-3 interceptor systems will cost £1.6billion but would be ‘funded entirely’ by Canada and Europe.

Mr Zelensky praised the ‘strong decision’ but said the deal ‘stipulates deliveries may begin only in a few years’.

He said he had asked Washington to provide a ‘winter support package’ of 100 Patriot interceptors per month as Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure continue ‘every single day’ and that 500 missiles ‘would be enough to protect our skies’.

He added: ‘We are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or some time later, but at the very moment the threat is there – when Russia is killing and destroying.’

He suggested the US and European allies could give Ukraine missiles they have stockpiled now, which would later be replenished by this new purchase.

Read More: Donald Trump agrees to send hundreds of missiles to Ukraine but they may take six years to arrive