United States announced this Thursday that it has begun talks with its allies in NATO regarding the possibility of providing anti-ship missiles to Ukrainealthough he acknowledged that there may be “technical challenges” in doing so.
“We have begun to consult with our allies on the possibility of providing anti-ship missiles to Ukraine. There may be some technical issues to get it done, but it’s something we’re starting to work on,” said a senior US official, who declined to give her name.
The official was present during the speech of the President of the United States, Joe Bidenat the extraordinary summit of NATO leaders being held this Thursday in Brussels to respond to the war in Ukraine.
There was also consensus in the session that the Alliance must be “prepared to respond” in the event of a “chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear” attack by Russia in Ukraine, the source added in a telephone press conference.
The debate over the possibility of sending anti-ship missiles came shortly following the Ukrainian navy claimed it had destroyed a Russian troop landing ship docked in the Russian military-controlled port of Berdyansk.
The port of Berdyansk, on the Sea of Azov, is of strategic importance to the Russian invaders as a key point for getting ammunition, military equipment and soldiers to the south of Ukraine.
Air defense systems for Ukraine
In addition, the President of the United States Joe Biden announced that together with the allies of the OTAN study the possibility of providing air defense systems to Ukraine for the Russian invasion.
“I welcome the steps taken by many allies to provide Defense support to Ukraine. Together, we are committed to identifying additional equipment, including air defense systems, to help Ukraine,” the president, who is in Brussels to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian war with his partners, said in a statement.
At the end of the meeting with the partners of the OTANthe US president assured that the Atlantic Alliance will continue to support the Ukrainian government with “important and growing” help in security matters to fight once morest the Russians and “uphold their right to self-defense.”
The allies gave the green light to the establishment of four new international battalions in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania, in addition to those already located since 2017 in the three Baltic countries and Poland. Biden called it a “strong signal” that the countries of the OTAN defend every inch of their territory collectively.
One month following the Russian invasion
Since last February 24, Russia is waging an invasion war once morest Ukraine with heavy bombardments from the air and from the sea, in addition to artillery attacks that have not been limited to military objectives, but have also affected residential buildings and others that served as shelters for civilian personnel.
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky He has already reiterated that his people will not surrender to the Russian siege and asked the international community for more support to confront Vladimir Putin’s troops. (With information from EFE)
