West will provide Ukraine with effective combat systems as soon as possible – US State Department

Department of State spokesman Vedant Patel reported this during a press briefing.

Patel stated that the US would persist in assessing the viability of different systems, considering the prevailing situation and security conditions on-site.

“A number of countries have been deeply involved in the broader effort to strengthen the security apparatus of our Ukrainian partners. The US – we have obviously at every tide and turn of this conflict taken steps to ensure that our Ukrainian partners have the assets that they need to defend themselves, defend their territorial integrity,” he said.

He also reminded that a lot of attention has been paid to strengthening Ukraine's air defense recently. Patel noted that the Ukrainian partners have demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in use of these air defense systems.

“We recently have placed an immense focus on air defense, and we have seen our Ukrainian partners use those air defense assets quite successfully, and we will continue to engage through the alliance and with our partners on any additional assets that could be provisioned down the road,” Patel commented.

He emphasized that the US and other partners want Ukraine to receive effective combat systems as soon as possible.

• On May 9, the US announced a new USD 1.2 billion military aid package for Ukraine.