On April 19, during a televised speech at the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO to provide at least 7 more Patriot air defense complexes or similar systems to help protect the lives of Ukrainian citizens. He emphasized the urgent need for aid, stating that Russia had launched nearly 10,000 missiles and guided bombs into Ukraine in recent months.
Zelensky highlighted the escalating attacks from Russia, including the deployment of over 1,200 missiles, over 8,500 guided glide bombs, and 1,500 suicide drones targeting Ukraine since the beginning of the year. He expressed concern about the limited aid provided to Ukraine and referenced Israel’s successful interception of more than 300 missiles and UAVs targeting their airspace on April 13.
The President urged NATO members to make a choice and decide whether they are true allies. Following the closed-door NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that alliance members had agreed to provide additional air defense system aid, including Patriot missiles and other complexes such as France’s SAMP/T.
While commitments from member countries were not explicitly mentioned, Stoltenberg indicated that NATO would provide available air defense systems to Ukraine with potential announcements in the near future. Zelensky previously stated that Ukraine requires 25 Patriot systems to fully protect its airspace as its current air defense network is strained by Russian attacks.
Currently, Ukraine operates a limited number of Patriot complexes provided by the US and some European countries. However, ammunition sources are dwindling due to successful Russian raids on Ukrainian infrastructure. This has led to concerns that Ukraine’s air defense capabilities are insufficient to counter Russian air force operations effectively endangering Ukrainian civilians and military personnel on the front lines.
In conclusion, Zelensky’s request for additional Patriot air defense complexes or similar systems reflects his government’s efforts to ensure security for Ukrainian citizens amid ongoing Russian aggression. The commitment from NATO members to provide additional aid is a positive step towards protecting Ukraine’s skies effectively.