U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Defends Ukraine Aid Amid Accusations of Delays

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in India that Washington’s policy on sharing early warnings of Russian missile attacks with Ukraine remains unchanged and that the Pentagon is not deliberately withholding air-defense missiles. He described reports of a U.S. denial of early warnings as "outrageous" and affirmed that "everything they've been doing with Ukraine remains the same. That has not changed. Nothing has changed."

Rubio noted that Ukraine’s request for additional Patriot interceptors must be balanced against U.S. stock-replenishment needs and the similar demands of other allies, citing conversations with Saudi Arabia and Israel. He added that the United States is investigating why Ukraine experienced information gaps on October 13 and 18, suggesting possible internal processing issues.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the United States of delaying delivery of missiles paid for under the NATO-led Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List program and of failing to provide timely alerts for Russian ballistic missile attacks. He also complained about speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield services, saying the U.S. has offered no explanation.

"I am grateful for his willingness to help and his clear position. First, it's about interceptors against ballistic missiles, which are needed to protect lives. Second, it's about early warning of Russian ballistic missile attacks, which is vital. Third, it's about the situation around Starlink/Starshield, which needs to be restored," Zelenskyy posted on social media.

The remarks come as EU diplomat Kaja Kallas accused Washington of pressuring Ukraine to surrender, and as President Donald Trump urged Kyiv to curb attacks on Russian oil facilities and pursue a peace settlement. The United Nations reported a sharp rise in civilian casualties in Ukraine during October, with 328 deaths and over 2,000 injuries recorded in the month.