Political consequences for 'Israel' sending Patriots to Kiev: Nebenzia
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In April, "Israel" announced its plans to phase out its eight Patriot missile batteries and replace them with more advanced systems.
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Members of the US 10TH Army Air and Missile Defense Command stand next to a Patriot surface-to-air-missile battery during the NATO multinational ground based air defense units exercise at the Siauliai airbase east of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania on July 20, 2017. (AP)
A prospective decision by "Israel" to provide Patriot missile systems to Ukraine might have political ramifications, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia warned on Monday.
The Financial Times reported on Thursday that the US is currently engaged in talks with Israeli and Ukrainian officials regarding the potential transfer of Patriot missile systems from "Israel" to Ukraine.
Senior officials from the US, "Israel", and Ukraine have been in talks about the proposed deal, although it has not yet been finalized. The Financial Times cited five sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations.
Under the arrangement being discussed, the Patriot missile systems would first be transferred from "Israel" to the US before eventually being sent to Ukraine, the report detailed.
In April, "Israel" announced its plans to phase out its eight Patriot missile batteries and replace them with more advanced systems. This potential transfer represents part of "Israel's" strategic adjustment in its security capabilities.
Nebenzia cautioned that Russia is "discouraging all countries, that have not yet done so, from providing arms for Ukraine," adding that "The destiny of the weapons that will be eventually exported to Ukraine, from wherever the destiny is clear, they will be destroyed as the other weapons that the west, the US are supplying Ukraine with, but I presume that the decision that might be taken on the issue may, of course, have certain political consequences."
Since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, the US has committed more than $52 billion in security assistance to support Ukraine. Meanwhile, the US has supplied "Israel" with over $6.5 billion in military supplies since the beginning of the war on Gaza last October, including nearly $3 billion approved in May.
A US Defense Department spokeswoman reached by Sputnik on Thursday could not confirm rumors that the US was in negotiations with Israel about providing Ukraine with more Patriot air defense systems.
On the subject of the Taliban, Nebenzia expressed that they are Afghanistan's de facto authorities, citing that the world should recognize and deal with them.
During a UN briefing, he stated that the Taliban has been "running the country now," adding that 'We have been saying consistently that you have to recognize this fact and deal with them as such."
