The United States is aware of Russia's launch of an intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday (November 21) and briefed Ukraine and allies in recent days to help them prepare, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, Reuters reports.
"Obviously, we are aware of Russia's launch of an intermediate range ballistic missile against Ukraine. Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia. We have seen that repeatedly over the past more than two years now, we've briefed Ukraine and our close allies, partners in recent days to help them prepare. As the president announced earlier this year, the United States is providing Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles to strengthen its air defense.
Many of these are air defense missiles have been delivered already as a consequence of that president's decisions to divert air defense exports to Ukraine and deliveries of additional air defense missiles to Ukraine are ongoing. And as I just stated, the president in September, on September 29th to be more exact, he talked about surging, continuing assistance, security assistance to Ukraine.
And so we're going to continue to do that, and that is going to make sure they're strengthening their capabilities, including air defense, and put Ukraine in the best possible position on the battlefield. And just yesterday, as I mentioned moments ago, we were able to announce another security assistance. And so that's going to continue. And so we will not be deterred here. We are going to continue to make sure that the Ukrainians have what they need on the ground," she stated.
