Rubio insists delays in interceptor deliveries to Kyiv are not deliberate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio insists that "nothing has changed" regarding the supply of American weapons to Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme.

Source: Rubio during his visit to India, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Rubio acknowledged that deliveries of interceptor missiles to Ukraine may be delayed because many US allies are seeking the same weapons. However, he said the PURL programme continues to operate as before and that the US is still sharing intelligence with Ukraine.

Quote: "So, let me clear those up. And as I did in my conversation with him [President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – ed.], number one is the Department of War, everything they've been doing with Ukraine remains the same. That has not changed. Nothing has changed… The second is intelligence sharing. The president [Donald Trump – ed.] made it very clear. He's ordered no such changes. So, none of that has changed."

Details: Rubio noted that interceptor missiles remain the most sought-after type of weaponry in the world, which could lead to delays in deliveries.

Quote: "Every country in the world would like interceptors. And many parts of the world are asking for that. It's probably the most in-demand product right now in the defence field. So when a country doesn't get interceptors from the United States, it's not because we're denying. We have our own needs too…

There is nothing being deliberately denied to Ukraine. It's simply a balance between our obligations to other partners and, frankly, our own standards and requirements for our own facilities as well."

Details: Rubio stressed that any delays in the supply of American weapons to Ukraine are not politically motivated.

"I think the important takeaway for you is that there has not been some deliberate political directive to go out and harm Ukraine," he added.

Background:

• On 19 October, Zelenskyy said the US Department of War is delaying the delivery of resources Ukraine needs.
• The president has also accused the US of trying to pressure Kyiv into capitulating to Russia.

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