Rubio Says Ukraine Interceptor Delivery May Be Outstanding, Denies Political Motive
RIYADH, October 20 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Tuesday that a batch of interceptors purchased for Ukraine through a NATO-backed weapons programme might not have been delivered, but denied that political intent was behind the situation.
Speaking to journalists at the start of a visit to India, Rubio said there had been no deliberate directive to harm Ukraine.
“There’s nothing being deliberately denied to Ukraine,” he said.
Rubio said he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for 45 minutes on Tuesday.
Zelenskiy said their discussion covered ballistic missile interceptors, early warning of Russian attacks and Starlink and Starshield satellite services, which he said needed to be restored.
Reuters earlier reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had yet to authorize the latest package of U.S. weapons purchased by NATO allies through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL.
Zelenskiy has also accused the Pentagon of delaying missile deliveries under the programme.
The dispute comes amid worsening relations between Kyiv and Washington. Reuters reported that the United States had threatened to stop PURL to pressure Ukraine to halt deep strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, as President Donald Trump announced an energy ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Source: Reuters.
