The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany has reiterated his call to set up a defense system on NATO territory against Russian air attacks on western Ukraine.
Oleksii Makeiev wrote in an article for the German news site Zeit Online that Russian missiles and drones should be intercepted by weapon systems located on the other side of the Ukrainian border in neighboring countries.
Ukraine is currently exposed to a constant barrage of Russian airstrikes, and Russian troops are also advancing on the ground. “For every kilometer they occupy in Ukraine, they get one kilometer closer to the EU,” Makeiev warned.
Protecting Western Ukrainian airspace from outside is technically possible and legally permitted, the ambassador argued.
As an example, he cited the successful defense against the Iranian airstrike on Israel in April, in which the US, Britain, Jordan and other countries took part.
Under international law, the UN Charter stipulates that a country under attack may defend itself. Third countries may help the attacked country without becoming a target themselves.
Russia currently only uses drones, missiles and cruise missiles for airstrikes deep in the Ukrainian hinterland, meaning a defense system there would not risk killing Russian pilots.
Although western Ukraine is several hundred kilometers away from the front line, the country continues to be hit repeatedly from the air. Targets include major energy infrastructure facilities, as well as Ukrainian military airfields and training areas.
Intercepting Russian missiles over Western Ukraine would most likely be possible from the territory of the NATO states of Poland and Romania.
