Following NATO’s decision to further strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed reserved satisfaction.
“We in Ukraine appreciate the efforts of every leader, every state that is really active, keeping its promises and trying to improve the capabilities of our air defense,” Zelensky said on Friday evening in his daily video address, which was unusually short.
NATO allies will give Ukraine more air defense systems, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg This was announced on Friday after a crisis meeting via video link with the ministers of Defense and Zelensky.
NATO has “mapped existing capabilities” of alliance countries that could be given to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said at a news conference after the meeting.
The alliance’s secretary general also said that “several allies have made concrete commitments” to send more air defense weapons to Ukraine.
Stotleberg declined to provide further details on what “existing capabilities” were identified, as this was classified information. However, he did say that the “mapping confirms that systems, including Patriot systems, are available for delivery to Ukraine.”
In the coming days, individual Member States will make concrete announcements. According to Stoltenberg, countries that do not have air defense systems themselves have agreed to provide financial support for the purchase of systems for Ukraine.
Just last weekend, Berlin had promised Ukraine the delivery of a third Patriot air defense system from German stockpiles.
“Ukraine needs air defense, and our partners can help,” Zelenskiy said. “We need artillery, and the world has it.” Only a sufficient number of air defense systems and fighter jets could protect Ukraine from Russian air attacks, he added. “Solutions are needed, solutions are possible.”
The NATO-Ukraine Council was convened at Zelensky’s request, with Ukraine concerned about whether it could hold the front line against increased Russian military pressure.
In recent weeks, Russia has destroyed almost all of Ukraine’s thermal energy plans with air strikes, Zelensky said before the meeting.
In the talks, Zelensky also pushed for additional weapons, artillery shells, vehicles and drones for the Ukrainian armed forces.
Stoltenberg reiterated his message to allies that in the current situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, it is more important to help Kiev than to achieve the alliance’s goals for the supply of weapons and ammunition.
“Allies must dig deep into inventories and accelerate the delivery of missiles, artillery and ammunition,” he said.
“Ukraine is using the weapons we provide to destroy Russia’s fighting capabilities. This makes us all safer. Support for Ukraine is therefore not charity. It is an investment in our own security,” he added.
According to information provided by Zelensky in early April, 25 Patriot air defense missile systems, each with six to eight launchers or similar equipment, would be needed to fully protect Ukrainian airspace. Alternatives include systems such as the Iris-T, SAMP/T and NASAMS.
