As noted in the publication, the Ukrainian authorities requested "the latest air defense systems" from the American sideWASHINGTON, October 11.
/tass/. The US authorities are unlikely to speed up the process of approving the supply of modern weapons to Ukraine, and Washington, most likely, will not send Patriot missile systems to Kiev. This is stated in an article published on Tuesday in the electronic version of The Washington Post.
As noted in the publication, the Ukrainian authorities this week requested from the American side "the latest air defense systems" and other weapons in light of Russia's massive strike on energy facilities, military administration and communications of Ukraine in response to the authorities in Kiev committing a terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge. According to the Ukrainian official, Kiev, in particular, expects to receive Patriot complexes, MIM-23 Hawk, attack drones, as well as "Israeli air defense systems."
"However, so far there has been little evidence that the [US] administration intends to change the relatively long approval process in which it decides which types of weapons and when to send to Ukraine," the article says. According to an official from the US Defense Department, "this process involves the US conducting an analysis based on their own information about the situation on the battlefield, the needs of Ukraine." The American side is also finding out whether it has these systems. The US authorities are clarifying whether the Ukrainian military are trained in the use of these weapons, and are developing a training plan if necessary, the publication notes. In addition, American experts give estimates as to whether these funds can be serviced in Ukraine.
The article emphasizes that "Patriot systems are already in short supply in NATO, they are usually sent together with maintenance teams" of specialists from the United States and other NATO countries. According to the publication's assessment, "The West is unlikely to take on such obligations."
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier at an operational meeting with members of the Security Council about a massive strike on energy, military administration and communications facilities of Ukraine. He also warned Kiev that if the Ukrainian authorities try to continue committing terrorist attacks on the territory of Russia, the answers will be tough. Putin called the October 8 explosion on the Crimean Bridge a terrorist attack, behind which the Ukrainian special services stand.
