Ukraine hands NATO urgent air defence wish list

Ukraine has submitted NATO with a list of urgent needs for air defence and missile defence systems ahead of the September 8 meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported the development following an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of permanent representatives.

The meeting, convened at Ukraine’s initiative, was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels on the eve of the Ramstein gathering. Strengthening Ukraine’s air and missile defences is expected to be one of the key issues on the agenda.

The meeting was chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

During the session, Serhii Boiev, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister for European Integration, and Brigadier General Serhii Sobko, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, presented the Allies with a detailed assessment of the current air threats facing Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation also submitted a list of priority and urgent requirements for air defence and missile defence capabilities.

Following the meeting, Kyiv called on NATO allies to accelerate the delivery of additional air and missile defence systems, stressing that the capabilities are directly linked to protecting the lives of Ukrainians.

Ukraine also urged its partners to mobilize, by the end of the year, the resources required to meet NATO’s declared level of military support for Ukraine, estimated at €70 billion.

By Vafa Guliyeva