Kirby Unaware of Abrams Tank Procurement Status But Hints Process Could Take ‘Many Months’

WASHINGTON, February 17 (Sputnik) - White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that he is unaware of where the United States’ procurement of Abrams main battle tanks for Ukraine currently stands, but added that the process could take many more months.

"I don’t know where they are in the procurement process," Kirby said during a briefing. "It’s going to be many months before they can be contracted for, built and procured… It’s going to be awhile."

Earlier this year, the United States promised the delivery of 31 Abrams main battle battle tanks to Ukraine after Kiev requested modern heavy armor systems from Western backers in its conflict with Russia.

Asked about the possibility of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, a sticking point that has repeatedly been raised amid the ongoing conflict, Kirby had no comment on the matter.

"We have been consistent in rolling out additional security assistance packages for Ukraine on a fairly routine, regular basis, and that will continue," Kirby said. "I'm not going to speak on that business."

Touching on the town of Bakhmut, a Donbass city that has been seen as critical in the liberation of the region, Kirby admitted to reporters that Russia was making serious gains in the area.

"[Russia] has made incremental gains in and around Bakhmut over the last few days. We certainly can’t predict one way or the other, it is possible that they might end up being successful in Bakhmut," Kirby said during a press briefing.

However, he went on to argue that Bakhmut holds no strategic value to Russian forces, adding that Ukraine would maintain strong defensive lines across the region in their fight to hold Bakhmut.

Kirby's remarks came weeks after French media earlier reported the US as calling on the Kiev regime to focus on mapping out a counteroffensive against Russian forces, rather than cling to the Donbass city.