NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Alexus Hrynkevich, has confirmed that preparations are underway to deliver Patriot to Ukraine. He reported the instruction to do this as soon as possible.
The Guardian reports.
Hrynkevich confirmed on the morning of July 17 that he had been instructed to deliver Patriot to Ukraine as soon as possible in line with US President Trump's statement earlier this week.
"I'm not going to reveal to the russians or anyone else the exact number of weapons we're transferring or when that will happen, but I will say that preparations are underway. We're working very closely with the Germans on the Patriot transfer, and the instructions I've received have been to do it as soon as possible. And we're doing that. In addition, we're also looking at other options and needs and working on proposals for our political leadership," he said.
He added that NATO would move in this direction as quickly as possible. According to him, Patriot systems that already in Europe could be quickly transferred to Ukraine, and later supplemented from the production line in the United States.
"Air defense is important on the modern battlefield, and we have seen the scale of recent russian attacks against Ukraine, so this is a key area of focus," stressed Hrynkevich, who has been in office since the beginning of this month.
He also warned that even if there is a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, russia will remain a threat.
"The war continues on our doorstep, in Ukraine. While we seek a peaceful settlement, even if that settlement comes, the russian forces and assets that are there will be re-established and their very existence will be something that we will have to think about from a military perspective and understand how it threatens the Alliance and the freedoms that we cherish. In my opinion, russia will certainly remain a constant threat," said the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Hrynkevich stressed the need to strengthen NATO in a broader sense, as he warned of the prospect of multiple conflicts occurring simultaneously, including war in Europe and war in the Pacific.
"Those of you who listen to our great Secretary General Mark Rutte have heard him say that Xi, before he decides to cross the Taiwan Strait, will probably call his friend putin and ask for his help. To me, that means both of these things can happen at the same time, but we will need all the equipment and the ammunition we can get to meet this challenge," he said.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on July 14, US President Donald Trump announced that Ukraine would receive 17 MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems. On July 16, Trump announced that the first Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukraine had already left for allies.
Reuters reported that European allies first heard about US President Donald Trump's proposal to send their weapons to Ukraine and buy weapons from the US in return, right during Trump's speech.
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