NATO countries reacted this Friday to the SOS launched by the President of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelensky, and committed to sending more air defense systems to the country as soon as possible. The latest campaign of Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure have highlighted the precarious situation facing its military.
“NATO has reviewed the existing capabilities within the Alliance and there are systems that could be released for Ukraine” (…), I expect new announcements in the very near future in light of the information that the allies have provided us” , declared its secretary general, Jens Stoltenerg, who left it in the hands of the governments to communicate what type of aid they are going to send, although he announced that it will include new Patriots systems.
“There is more help on the way,” Stoltenberg emphasized at the end of the NATO-Ukraine Council held yesterday by video conference at the request of Kyiv, which has had this forum since last year to maintain direct dialogue with the Western military organization.
Zelensky has ordered seven additional Patriot or similar systems from allies. It is a “critical” need for the country, he reiterated the Government of his to the NATO countries. Germany had already sent two systems and last week promised to donate one more of the dozen it has. The exact figures of capabilities of this type in European hands are confidential but, in any case, the Alliance hopes that its members can provide it with the half dozen more that Ukraine demands. Spain, Greece, Romania and the Netherlands also have this type of equipment. “We know who has them and where they are,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas this Thursday on the sidelines of the latest European summit.
Some countries that do not have their own air defense systems have committed to financing their purchase to donate them to Kyiv, Stoltenberg announced. “This is a war of attrition, they need more resources and they need them urgently, which is why the allies are redoubling their efforts. There have been announcements in the last few days and I hope there will be more in the coming days,” he said. Russia far surpasses Ukraine in air capabilities but the type of missile systems Europe is debating sending them would be a greater threat to its aviation. In addition to the coveted Patriot, the Alliance could also provide Kyiv with the SAMP-T medium-range surface-to-air missile systems, of Franco-Italian manufacture, or send more NASAMS missile batteries like those provided by Spain.
NATO members are allowed to temporarily disregard the organization’s national defense guidelines if it is to help Ukraine, as long as they then take steps to replenish their arsenals. “If the only way for allies to help Ukraine is to give them the weapons they need to defend themselves, well, that’s a risk we have to take,” he admitted. After all, he added, “Ukraine is using the weapons we give them to destroy Russian defense capabilities and that makes us all safer.”
