US explains what is limiting Patriot missile supplies to Ukraine

Amid problems with supplying interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has said that the main issue is a lack of adequate production capacity.

Source: Whitaker in an interview with Radio Liberty, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Whitaker stated that the United States and its NATO allies are working to find available Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.

He said they are working very actively through the PURL initiative , which also provides Ukraine with Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles. The ambassador noted that demand exceeds supply and that the US and its allies will have to look deeply for ways to ensure Ukraine could defend itself in winter. 

In response to a question about the main problem with missile supplies, Whitaker indicated that allies' contributions to PURL are sufficient.

Meanwhile, the ambassador pointed to a lack of adequate production capacity.

Whitaker stressed that this means existing stocks are insufficient for the current situation in the world. He added that an even more important factor is the global security environment, as the world has become more dangerous.

The ambassador believes the solution is to combine several measures at the same time, including expanding production capacity both in the US and in Europe.

He also said he is working on opportunities for joint production, both with Ukrainians and with NATO allies. Whitaker noted that they are taking a broader look at integrated air and missile defence, adding that some combination of all these measures was needed.

Background:

• Negotiations on additional US supplies of Patriot missiles to Ukraine have been ongoing for a long time, while US President Donald Trump's position on the issue has changed repeatedly. Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US was negotiating with Ukraine on granting licences to produce missiles for Patriot systems.
• EU member states agreed to purchase US-made interceptor missiles for Patriot systems for Ukraine worth a total of €3.2 billion as part of a €90 billion EU loan.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.