Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Ukraine asks U.S. for attack drones
Ukraine has asked the United States for drones and other modern 21st century weapons, as stated on Monday evening by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin on the program “Freedom of Speech,” which airs on the ICTV television station.
“...and that we get new drones, including attack drones,” said Klimkin, answering a question about the state of negotiations with the U.S. about providing weapons to Ukraine.
According to him, Ukraine is also interested in counterbattery, electronic warfare (EW) and other 21st century weapons.
“This is actually the logic of what we are striving for,” said Klimkin.
The minister said that Kyiv needs weapons because it makes Ukraine stronger, and also greatly increases Russia’s cost of further aggression.
In July 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon had developed a plan to provide weapons to Ukraine and was awaiting Trump’s approval. Ukraine has long been trying to get Javelin anti-tank missiles in order to effectively fight Russian armored vehicles.
In early August, the U.S. Defense Department sent a proposal to the White House for a new aid package worth $50 million, which foresees the export of Javelin anti-tank systems to Ukraine.
On August 24, Independence Day in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited the country. Among other things, the talks discussed the issue of strengthening the defense capabilities of Ukraine. Poroshenko said that he did not want to comment on specific details regarding the supply of deadly weapons.
On September 19, the U.S. Senate approved a bill concerning the U.S. budget for national security needs in 2018. It provides for the allocation of $500 million to Ukraine and authorizes providing Ukraine with deadly weapons of a defensive nature.