Western allies risk another major setback in their support for Ukraine as delays in supplying air defense missiles could eventually force Kyiv to consider accepting Moscow’s conditions for a peace agreement, Bloomberg reports.

According to the publication, Ukraine may no longer be able to sustain the same intensity of military operations if deliveries of air defense munitions continue to slow. The most acute shortage concerns interceptor missiles for air defense systems.

European countries are trying to compensate by supplying SAMP/T systems, but their own stockpiles remain limited. Bloomberg also notes that these systems have only limited effectiveness against ballistic missiles.

The report argues that Western governments now effectively face three options. The first is to urgently locate additional weapons and new sources of supply. The second is to pressure Kyiv into withdrawing forces from Donbas, bringing a settlement closer to Moscow’s terms. The third is to prolong the conflict into 2027 or beyond despite mounting losses, resource depletion and a potentially severe winter for Ukraine.

The author considers the third scenario the most likely, suggesting that Western governments and Kyiv may choose to continue the war despite the human and material costs.

In this context, delays in air defense missile deliveries could not only weaken Ukraine’s military position but also reduce Kyiv’s political room for maneuver and increase pressure for a settlement on terms favorable to Moscow.