LOC20:42
17:42 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 17 (KUNA) -- The United States is expediting efforts to supply weapons to Ukraine under President Donald Trump's plan, which involves European NATO member states purchasing American arms particularly Patriot air defense systems and transferring them to Kyiv, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on Thursday.
"We are all moving with haste to facilitate this and get this done, and, you know, I think things are actually moving very quickly," Whitaker told journalists at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "But I can't verify a date that this will all be completed," he added.
Regarding the possibility of selling Patriot systems directly from US military stockpiles, Whitaker noted that there are "ongoing conversations" about the matter.
"We're never going to put the United States at a strategic disadvantage, and we're going to make sure that we have everything we need," he said.
"At the same time, I think we all acknowledge the desperate requirements that Ukraine currently, immediately needs on the battlefield and to protect their cities," he pointed out.
Commenting on growing European concern over the ongoing US review of its global force deployments, Whitaker stated: "We've agreed to no surprises and no gaps in the strategic framework of Europe.
"I don't think there's a lot of anxiety. I think there's just a lot of desire to know our plan so that there can be other planning."
On Monday, President Trump announced that the United States will provide Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems, missiles, and other weaponry as part of its support in the face of Russia's invasion. He clarified, however, that the cost of the weapons would be covered by other NATO member states.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking alongside Trump at a joint press conference earlier this week at the White House, said that several NATO members had expressed willingness to participate in the initiative. He named Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Canada as countries ready to join this new effort. (end)
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