NATO countries reacted yesterday to the SOS sent by the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr, and pledged to send more anti-aircraft defense systems to the country as soon as possible. The latest campaign of Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure has 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 view of the information that has been provided to us the allies,” said its secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, who left it up to governments to decide what kind of aid they would send, although he said it would include new Patriot systems.
“There is more help on the way”, emphasized Stoltenberg at the end of the NATO-Ukraine Council held yesterday by video conference at the request of Kyiv, which since last year has had this forum to maintain direct dialogue with the Western military organization .
Zelenskiy has requested seven additional Patriot or similar systems from allies. It is a “critical” need for the country, his Government reiterated yesterday to the NATO countries. Germany has already sent two systems and last week pledged to give one more of the dozen it has. The exact figures for such capabilities 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 claims. Spain, Greece, Romania and the Netherlands also have this type of equipment. “We know who has them and where they are”, said the Prime Minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, this Thursday on the sidelines of the last European summit.
Some countries that do not have their own anti-aircraft defense systems have pledged to finance the purchase of them to be given to Kyiv, Stoltenberg announced. “This is a war of attrition, they need more means and they need them urgently, which is why the allies are redoubling their efforts. There have been announcements in recent 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 pose a greater threat to its aviation.
