Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said he has received assurances from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the United States has no plans to divert American weapons purchased for Ukraine to the Middle East.
Source: Sybiha in an interview with Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Sybiha said that during a meeting of G7 foreign ministers held in France on 27 March, the US side confirmed that it has no plans to divert weapons purchased under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme to the Middle East.
Quote: "At the level of Secretary of State Rubio, it was confirmed that no funds or equipment allocated to Ukraine under this programme have been redirected elsewhere. Nor are there any such plans at present."
Details: Sybiha added that Ukraine has received assurances about contributions to the PURL programme from another country. The minister did not disclose details, but noted that the programme for procuring US-made weapons continues to function.
"This confirms that the programme is operational and will continue to expand. It remains a key instrument for strengthening our strategic air defence," he noted.
Background:
- Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that US weapons intended for Ukraine had not been diverted to the Middle East, although further developments would depend on a number of factors, including the duration of the war in Iran.
- On 28 March, Rubio said the US is not diverting weapons purchased by NATO countries for Ukraine to the Middle East, but did not rule out that it could happen.
- The issue arose after The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon was considering diverting key military equipment intended for the Ukrainian armed forces to the war with Iran.
- US President Donald Trump also commented on the reports, saying the US regularly redirects weapons from different parts of the world.
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