The United States will not be able to transfer the weapons Ukraine needs, as well as maintain the systems already transferred, without additional funding from Congress. This was stated by Pentagon representative Patrick Ryder during a briefing.
According to Ryder, the lack of funding has forced the Pentagon to suspend the removal of weapons from its stockpile.
"And this, of course, does not allow us to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs on the battlefield, including artillery rounds, anti-tank weapons, air defense interceptors," he said.
According to him, without additional funding, the Pentagon cannot provide systems and equipment that meet Ukraine's medium- and long-term needs, "as well as help them maintain the systems we have previously provided them."
"We will continue to work closely with Congress and urge additional funding as soon as possible," Ryder said.
As the Pentagon representative noted, "Ukraine has the right to vote when it comes to fighting on the battlefield, but it is clear that the threat is real."
"And I think the fact that Russia continues to demonstrate its intention to fight against Ukraine, to occupy Ukraine, and to destroy Ukraine as a country emphasizes the fact that this is a serious security threat that is not going away," he said.
At the same time, he emphasized that the sooner the United States can continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary level of support, "the better it will be not only for Ukraine, but for the international community."
