U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the United States has not yet diverted any arms shipments intended for Ukraine, but warned that it could happen. He also denied that they demanded that Ukraine hand over Donbas to Russia in exchange for security guarantees.
Rubio commented on reports about the possible diversion of weapons purchased by NATO countries for Ukraine for the US's own needs during a conversation with journalists before leaving Paris, where he participated in a meeting of G7 foreign ministers.
– Well, that hasn't happened yet. Nothing has been redirected yet. But it may happen, said the US foreign minister. – This is about weapons sold under PURL (Priority Ukraine Requirements List – PAP) by NATO, so the question will be if we have a need (…), if the United States has military needs, either to replenish supplies or to fulfill some mission in the national interest of the United States, we will always be in the first place – he noted.
According to Politico, Rubio allegedly warned G7 partners about this possibility during Friday's meeting. This will especially apply to missiles for Patriot air defense systems, whose supplies are quickly depleting due to Iranian shelling of regional countries and US forces.
Rubio: Zelensky is lying
During the briefing, Rubio also referred to the statement of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who claimed that the US makes providing security guarantees to Ukraine conditional on whether Kiev will give Russia the entire Donbas as part of the peace negotiations.
– That's a lie. I saw him say it, and it's sad that he said it because he knows it's not true and that's not what he was told. “He was told the obvious: Security guarantees don't take effect until the war ends, or you go into war,” Rubio said.
When asked about the US position on Donbas, Rubio said that the US was only trying to be an intermediary and mediator between the two sides.
– We told the Ukrainian side what the Russians insist on. We explained it to them. They are the ones who make the decision (…). We never told them that they would have to agree or reject it, he explained. – Our role was to find out what both sides wanted and see if we could find a compromise. Ultimately, the decision rests with Ukraine. If they are not willing to make certain decisions or make certain concessions, the war will continue. The same applies to the Russian side, said the Secretary of State.
When asked in turn about Russia's support for Iran, Rubio only said that “Russia is not doing anything for Iran that would in any way hinder or affect the effectiveness of U.S. action.”
Rubio: We are asking for help with Iran not now, but after the war
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday that the US was not asking allies for help in the war, but to escort the tankers after the fighting and ensure that Iran does not impose transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that he received a positive response from the G7 countries.
– We are not asking anyone for help in this war. The president has made it clear (…) We are doing it ourselves, Rubio said during a conversation with journalists before his departure from Paris, where he met with ministers of the G7 countries.
– We are talking about the fact that some in the Iranian regime claim that they want to introduce a system of fees for transit through the Strait of Hormuz. They want it to be permanent. “It's unacceptable (…) It has a small impact on us, but it has a much bigger impact on the rest of the world, including many of the countries represented today at the G7 meeting, so these countries are deeply affected by what we said, you have to do something about it,” he explained.
The chief of American diplomacy said that many of his interlocutors made it clear that they understood this message and agreed with it. He stressed that it is wrong to believe that the US is insisting that allies send ships to the Strait of Hormuz immediately.
– We have always seen this as a post-conflict necessity. Regardless of what Iran says, the first few tankers that pass through the strait after this operation is completed will need an escort from someone or they will not be able to get insurance, Rubio noted.
Referring to the negotiations with Iran, the Secretary of State said that so far the US has not received a response from Tehran on the proposed conditions for ending the conflict.
– We had an exchange of messages and signals from the Iranian system, whatever was left of it, regarding its readiness to talk about certain issues. We are waiting for further clarifications, Rubio said. – We don't have any news on this matter yet. This could happen at any time, he noted.
Oskar Górzyński (PAP)
osk/mal/
