US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States does not have any Patriot air defense systems available to be transferred to Ukraine. However, the US is actively working with NATO allies to obtain their air defense systems to support Ukrainian forces.
Speaking in the Senate, Rubio emphasized that the president’s administration must request additional funding from Congress to assist Ukraine. He noted that some NATO countries have Patriot batteries that could be transferred to Ukraine to protect Kyiv and other cities, but these countries are reluctant to part with their systems.
Furthermore, Rubio pointed out that ammunition is being expended faster than the West can produce it, complicating efforts to supply Ukraine with the necessary weapons.
Regarding a possible resolution to the conflict, the Secretary of State stressed that the war in Ukraine can only be resolved through diplomatic negotiations. He explained that Russia is trying to take what does not belong to it, and Ukraine will not be able to regain lost territories by military means. Therefore, in his view, the conflict must be ended through negotiations.
On May 19, US President Donald Trump held phone conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump stated that following his call, negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war should “immediately begin.”
Putin, in turn, expressed the opinion that a ceasefire is only possible after reaching appropriate agreements, but did not specify what agreements he was referring to.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that during his conversation with Trump, they discussed the possibility of imposing serious sanctions against Russia if the Russian Federation does not end the war.
