Statement by Marco Rubio: the US does not presently have Patriot systems in its arsenal for Ukraine, but is actively collaborating with allies regarding the possibility of their transfer
The United States has again made statements concerning military aid to Ukraine in the context of its fight against Russian aggression. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during recent Senate hearings, reported that the United States currently does not possess Patriot systems available for transfer to Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that Washington is working closely with NATO allies who own these high-precision air defense systems and are willing to discuss the possibility of transferring them to Ukraine. Commenting on the situation, Rubio stated that over the past few weeks, the US has been actively working with partner countries to provide Ukraine with additional air defense capabilities. Responding to a question from Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, he highlighted that, except for a short one-week interruption, US government agencies have not ceased delivering already approved military aid. At the same time, he acknowledged that proposals for new aid are not within his competence, and the final decision regarding them lies with the US administration. Rubio emphasized that packages of aid already approved by Congress for Ukraine are being implemented, except for certain requests that currently cannot be fulfilled due to the absence of necessary systems. When asked for clarification about the Patriot systems, he openly admitted that the United States currently does not have such systems at its disposal, which are part of modern air defense tools. However, he also underscored that US allies possess a certain number of Patriot batteries, and it would be they who could transfer them to Ukraine to safeguard the skies over Kyiv and other crucial sites. The Secretary of State noted that the US strongly encourages partner countries to cooperate in this direction and is ready to support them. "None of these countries are willing to relinquish their systems, and in turn, we do not have the capacity to produce them quickly," he added. At the same time, Rubio stressed that the main task remains avoiding a military resolution to the conflict, emphasizing that the prevailing opinion is that the war should be settled at the negotiating table. Another important aspect is the views of Ukrainian leadership. In particular, President Volodymyr Zelensky recently expressed confidence that air defense systems for Ukraine could appear as a result of a treaty on the supply of mineral resources with the United States. The Ukrainian side has long appealed to Washington for the provision of modern air defense systems, and the administration of previous presidents, including Donald Trump, proposed the possibility of purchasing such equipment with European support. Thus, the issue of supplying Patriot systems will remain relevant in the context of strategic assistance to Ukraine. Washington values its partnership and is focused on finding ways to ensure Ukraine’s defense capabilities, not excluding the possibility of cooperation with allies to transfer modern air defense systems. All these steps are taking place against the backdrop of a complex military-political situation that leaves open questions regarding the future strategy for supporting Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia.