NEW YORK, August 6. /TASS/. Western countries are increasingly hesitant about the issue of transferring interceptor missiles for air defense systems to Ukraine, The New York Times has reported.

According to its information, Kiev's allies are taking into account ongoing conflicts around the world, including in the Middle East, which require retaining missiles to maintain their own defense capabilities.

In addition, the publication points out that Russia produces more ballistic missiles than Western countries are able to produce interceptors. Furthermore, the US weapons procurement program for Ukraine using European funds, PURL (Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List), "has fallen short of expectations," and contributions from Kiev's allies approximately one year after the program's launch have reached about half of the intended amounts.

Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that the West's supply of weapons to Kiev and assistance in training Ukrainian military personnel only prolong the conflict and do not change the situation on the battlefield.