Alwaght: The US does not intend to deploy to its ally Ukraine Patriot air defense missiles to help it counter Russian strikes, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder told journalists.
“Right now we have no plans to provide Patriot batteries to Ukraine but again, we’ll continue to have those discussions," he said during a regular press briefing on Tuesday.
"There will continue to be an ongoing discussion," he said. "When we have more to announce on that front, we certainly will."
Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference after the first day of the NATO ministerial meeting that NATO was discussing possible supplies of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
The US-made Patriot air defense system consisting of an air interception rocket and a radar system is meant to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles’ warheads.
Since the Russian war on Ukraine started in February, the West supplied Ukraine with considerable weaponry, with the US being the top supplier.
The US supplies mainly include heavy weaponry like HIMARS missile systems, in addition to regular financial aids to Kiev government.
