NSC spokesman tight-lipped on more advance weapons for Ukraine
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stayed tight-lipped in an ABC "Good Morning America" interview Thursday on whether the United States will offer Ukraine additional advanced military supplies beyond Patriot missiles and precision-guided munitions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for more advanced weapons, such as American-made planes and long-range missiles, which the Biden administration has been hesitant to supply.
In his speech to Congress Wednesday night, Zelenskyy noted that Russia has "much more missiles and planes than we ever had."
"We're going to keep supporting Ukraine as the president said for as long as it takes and doing it in lockstep with the Ukrainians," Kirby told "GMA" co-anchor Whit Johnson.
Kirby added, "The focus is very much on air defense. You saw the president announce the Patriot battery which will soon go to Ukraine. That will be a significant contribution to their air defense. I won't get ahead of decisions that are still before us. We'll keep working with Ukrainians as the needs evolve on the battlefield."
During a joint press conference Wednesday, President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy were asked by a Ukrainian journalist why the United States couldn't just give Ukraine all military capabilities it needs to defeat Russia.
While Zelenskyy said he agreed that he would like to see Ukraine get more advanced weapons, Biden said such a move could trigger World War III.
"The idea that we would give Ukraine material that is fundamentally different than is already going there, would have a prospect of breaking up NATO and breaking up the European Union and the rest of the world," Biden said. "We're going to give Ukraine what it needs to be able to defend itself, to be able to succeed and succeed on the battlefield."







