The US prioritizes supplying NASAMS and Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
The U.S. will prioritize providing NASAMS and Patriot systems to Ukraine, even if it disadvantages other Washington allies.
According to RIA Novosti, at a press conference on June 20, John Kirby, the White House National Security Council's strategic communications coordinator, stated that the US would provide Ukraine with NASAMS and Patriot air defense systems, even if it harmed the interests of other allies.
"The U.S. government has made a difficult but necessary decision to shift its priorities in short-term military deployment plans, shifting the focus from Patriot and NASAMS equipment intended for other countries to sending them to Ukraine instead," John Kirby emphasized.
Kirby clarified that the U.S. is discussing the transfer of air defense missiles to Kyiv, not a whole system of systems. Furthermore, prioritizing the supply of air defense systems to Ukraine will not affect Israel.
John Kirby emphasized that the US must "dig deeper" by providing Kyiv with a comprehensive air defense system and artillery ammunition, including from its own reserves. It is for this reason that Washington has had to arrange for the transfer of air defense equipment to other countries.
A week ago, US President Joe Biden announced a plan to delay deliveries of Patriot missile systems to foreign buyers until the US meets Kyiv's requirements. He made it clear that America's defense industry partners had agreed to this decision.
Also on June 20, at a regular briefing, Pentagon press secretary Patrick Ryder stated that the U.S. has not changed its policy regarding Ukraine's use of U.S. ATACMS missiles, which is limited to attacks on the border region with Kharkiv. According to Ryder, U.S. policy on weapons use appears to focus on retaliation.
