German Patriot air defence system units are seen at the Vilnius airport, ahead of a NATO summit, in Vilnius, Lithuania July 10, 2023. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed NATO members on Friday, emphasizing Ukraine’s urgent need for a minimum of seven Patriot or equivalent high-end air defense systems to counter Russian air strikes. He urged NATO allies to increase their military assistance to Kyiv during an emotionally charged speech delivered via video link to the NATO-Ukraine Council.
Zelenskiy characterized the current level of foreign aid to Ukraine as “very limited” and cited Israel’s support during Iran’s significant air strike as a point of comparison. He stressed the necessity of grounding Russian President Vladimir Putin and restoring safety to Ukrainian airspace, emphasizing that the choice to do so lay with NATO allies and the strength of their alliance.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its long-range bombardment of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and urban areas, escalating pressure on Kyiv as Russian forces make incremental advances in the eastern theater of conflict. Zelenskiy highlighted the substantial volume of Russian military activity directed at Ukraine in the current year, including missile attacks, drone incursions, and guided bomb strikes, amid a perceived slowdown in Western military assistance.
Directly addressing the need for air defense systems, Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine requires a minimum of seven additional Patriot or similar systems to significantly improve its defensive capabilities and mitigate loss of life.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced after the meeting between allied defense ministers and Zelenskiy that NATO allies had agreed to provide Kyiv with additional air defense systems. Stoltenberg outlined options beyond the Patriot system, including the French SAMP/T system, and noted that allies without available systems had pledged financial support to facilitate Ukraine’s acquisition of such equipment.
Zelenskiy underscored the urgency of delivering long-range missiles and artillery shells to Ukrainian forces, emphasizing the necessity for swift action without delay in light of the current circumstances.
Despite delays in U.S. military aid approval in Congress, the House of Representatives is anticipated to vote on a bill on Saturday that would unlock tens of billions of dollars in military assistance. Zelenskiy expressed continued anticipation for new support packages from the United States, emphasizing the prolonged uncertainty surrounding American assistance.
While Zelenskiy’s speech was delivered in a closed session of the NATO-Ukraine Council, the text and video were subsequently made available on his office’s website.
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