The US prioritizes providing NASAMS and Patriot to Ukraine

According to RIA Novosti, in a press conference on June 20, White House Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby said that the US will provide Ukraine with NASAMS and Patriot air defense systems, even though it harms the interests of other allies.

“The US government has made a difficult but necessary decision to change the priority of short-term military supplies to other countries, especially Patriot and NASAMS, to be sent to Ukraine instead,” Mr. John Kirby emphasized.

Mr. Kirby clarified that the US was talking about the transfer of anti-aircraft missiles to Kiev, not a complex of systems to Kiev. In addition, prioritizing the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine would not affect Israel.

Mr. John Kirby stressed that the US must “dig deeper” by providing Kiev with a set of air defense systems and artillery shells, including from its own reserves. For this reason, Washington had to arrange the transfer of air defense equipment to another country.

US President Joe Biden announced a week ago plans to delay deliveries of Patriot systems to foreign buyers until the US meets Kiev’s demands. He made it clear that US defense industry partners agreed with this decision.

Also on June 20, at a regular briefing, Pentagon Press Secretary Patrick Ryder said the US has not changed its policy regarding Ukraine's use of US ATACMS missiles, which are limited to attacks on the area bordering Kharkiv. According to Ryder, US policy on the use of weapons seems to focus on firing back.