The United States’ decision to increase military support to Israel after attacks by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas will not affect Washington’s ability to continue arming Ukraine, its ambassador to NATO assured this Tuesday.
“On whether or not US support for Israel could come at the expense of support for Ukraine, we do not anticipate any major stumbling blocks in that regard,” the US representative to the Atlantic Alliance, Julianne Smith, told reporters.
“I think the United States will be able to remain focused on our partnership and commitment to Israel’s security, while at the same time honoring our commitments and promising to continue supporting Ukraine,” he said.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, on Sunday ordered ships and combat vessels to approach Israel, in a show of support, and sent new military aid.
This new crisis comes as the White House seeks a way to keep weapons supplies flowing to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s allies will meet in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss arms deliveries, focusing on the Ukrainian counteroffensive and ways to provide air defenses.
“I anticipate that the emphasis will be primarily on air defense and munitions, although no doubt the Ukrainians will come with a variety of other requests,” Smith said.
Since the start of the Russian offensive in February last year, the aid provided by the United States to Ukraine is equivalent to that of all the European members of NATO and Canada combined.
Diplomats at NATO insist there is no danger of arms supplies to Ukraine drying up in the near future.
However, the EU’s head of diplomacy has already warned that the bloc would not be able to cover any funding gap left by the United States.
