Official announcements from the governments involved

U.S. Supplied Stinger and Javelin Systems to Ukraine in September 2021, Blinken Reveals

Jan 4, 2025, 03:01 PM

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has revealed that the United States began arming Ukraine well before the onset of the conflict with Russia. In an interview with The New York Times, Blinken disclosed that the U.S. started supplying Ukraine with weapons, including Stinger and Javelin systems, as early as September 2021, with further deliveries in December of the same year. This move was intended to ensure that Ukraine had the necessary means to defend itself against potential aggression. The revelation has prompted a response from Russia, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stating that Russia had been warning about these weapon supplies for years, citing them as a reason for the demilitarization of Ukraine as part of its special military operation.