Kyiv: The US has assured Kyiv that it will not redirect to the Middle East weapons that were sold under a special dedicated program for Ukraine, Ukraine’s foreign minister said on Sunday. Speaking at a press briefing in the capital Kyiv, Andriy Sybiha stated that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio conveyed these reassurances during last week’s G7 meeting in Paris.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sybiha emphasized that Secretary of State Rubio clarified that nothing from the program meant for Ukraine has been redirected to other geographical areas. Furthermore, there are currently no plans for such a redirection. Sybiha added that assurances have been received regarding the replenishment of this program and contributions from another new country, which he declined to name. This indicates that the program is operational and will continue to be developed.

The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program remains the only viable tool for strengthening Ukraine’s strategic air defense systems, as per Sybiha. Launched last July, the PURL initiative is a NATO program through which allies fund the purchase of US weapons and equipment for Ukraine.

With the US and Israeli war on Iran now in its second month, concerns have been raised about the US’s capacity to supply sufficient weapons and ammunition to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, now in its fifth year.