Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh reported that U.S. and Ukrainian defense leaders recently discussed the attack on the Russian province of Kursk, as well as the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III had a conversation with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to gain a better understanding of Ukraine’s objectives in the conflict. The U.S. is closely monitoring the situation and continuing to engage with Ukraine as the war progresses.
Despite the current offensive towards Kursk, the type of weapons provided to Ukraine by the coalition supporting them has not changed. Singh noted that the weapons given to the Ukrainian armed forces have evolved since the Russian invasion in February 2022. Initially, basic anti-armor and anti-aircraft weaponry were sent by the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, but as the war continued, Ukrainian pilots began flying F-16s, infantry received specialized training, and tankers operated German Leopard and U.S. Abrams tanks. The U.S. reserves the right to modify and provide different capabilities to Ukraine as needed.
There are indications that the Ukrainian attack in Russia has caused Russian forces to be redirected away from their operations in Eastern Ukraine. Singh mentioned that there have been reports of some Russian units being moved towards Kursk, although she did not provide specific details on the number of units or their objectives. U.S. officials believe that the Ukrainians have been successful on the battlefield and have managed to push back Russian forces from areas they previously captured.
In the Middle East, U.S. deterrence forces are continuing to arrive as Secretary Austin has ordered F-22 Raptor aircraft to the region and directed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to expedite its arrival in U.S. Central Command. More U.S. naval vessels have also been sent to the waters off Israel. The U.S. government is focused on achieving a cease-fire in Gaza to bring all hostages home and end the conflict in the region. Iran and Iranian-backed groups have threatened to attack Israel, but the U.S. and its allies managed to thwart 90% of the drones and missiles launched by Iran in April, showcasing a strong military presence in the region.
