The United States calls on its allies to provide Ukraine with all the air defense they can share.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this in a conversation with reporters.
— Our position is that let's provide air defense to Ukraine, this is the most effective way to protect the skies. That's why we called every ally — provide whatever system you can provide — Sullivan said in response to a question about the Polish minister's statement that Poland will not shoot down Russian missiles flying through Ukraine in its direction unless there is a corresponding decision at the NATO level.
In addition, Sullivan noted that, according to the White House, powerful air defense is the best way to stop Russian air forces.
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Air defense for Ukraine
For his part, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder answered a question regarding the details of the deployment of air defense systems in Ukraine, which Joe Biden had previously informed about during the NATO summit in Washington:
— For security reasons, I will not be able to talk about the deployment timeline — further that, as always, we will work with our Ukrainian partners to deliver these funds as quickly as possible. And, of course, we will leave it to Ukrainian officials to talk about when these systems will arrive and when they will be put into operation.
Ryder noted that the United States understands the urgency of this issue, given the horrific missile strikes carried out by the Russian Federation this week, one of which hit a children's hospital.
The Pentagon representative did not specifically respond to the Voice of America journalist’s remark that Ukraine had asked for seven air defense systems, but has so far received promises of 5 such systems, noting that this is a priority for the United States and they “ ;will continue to work with our allies and partners around the world to provide our country with what it needs to protect itself and its people”.