AP: US officials still reviewing Ukraine’s defence requests

US officials are reviewing Ukraine’s extensive list of requested weaponry to determine which arms can be quickly replaced, following a recent agreement announced by US President Donald Trump for European NATO members to supply Ukraine with defensive munitions from their current stockpiles.

The agreement, outlined on July 14 during Trump’s meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, calls for NATO allies to transfer billions of dollars’ worth of arms to Ukraine, with plans to restock those supplies through US manufacturers, Caliber.Az reports via AP.

According to American officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of ongoing arms transfer discussions, Ukraine’s requests remain largely unchanged since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion over three years ago.

The Ukrainian military continues to seek a wide range of weapons, including Patriot air defence systems, NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems), long-range ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems), and Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems. Artillery supplies, particularly 155mm shells, are also high on Kyiv’s priority list.

While the US is assessing how to fulfill these requests, officials caution that replacing some of the more advanced systems could take significant time. One official noted that delivering replacement Patriot systems to donor countries could take up to five years, whereas smaller munitions such as artillery shells can be produced and delivered much more rapidly.

By Sabina Mammadli