Zelenskyy pushes for stronger air defences amid uncertainty over Trump’s approach

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to once again press allies for increased air defence capabilities during a key meeting of the Ramstein group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on January 9.

With US President-elect Donald Trump’s imminent inauguration, which promises a new foreign policy approach, Zelenskyy is keen to secure more support to bolster Ukraine's defences against Russia’s ongoing invasion, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The meeting, which will involve dozens of partner nations, is seen as critical as Ukraine faces escalating threats from Russian missiles, guided bombs, and aviation.

Zelenskyy stated, “We will discuss this with them and continue to persuade them. The task remains unchanged: strengthening our air defence.”

US Defence Secretary Lloyd J. Austin is also expected to attend the meeting, marking a potential last push for military aid under the Biden administration. In its final weeks, the Biden administration has been working to send as much military support to Ukraine as possible before Trump assumes office on January 20.

Trump, during his election campaign, claimed he could end the war within a day, sparking questions about the future of US military support for Ukraine. Zelenskyy, acknowledging Trump's unpredictability, emphasized that such qualities could influence the US’s approach to Russia’s invasion.

As Russia continues to control about one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory, Zelenskyy remains determined to secure Ukraine’s military needs. The war’s trajectory currently appears unfavourable for Ukraine, with significant losses on the frontlines and a pressing need for continued Western support.

The situation remains dire as Ukrainian forces contend with heavy losses. In a recent report, Zelenskyy highlighted the significant toll inflicted on Russian and North Korean troops in Ukraine's Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a successful incursion, inflicting losses on Russian paratroopers and North Korean infantry. Despite these victories, military analysts suggest that Ukraine has lost around 40% of the land it initially captured.

In a separate development, a Russian-guided bomb attack on the town of Semenivka in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region left nine people wounded on Saturday evening.

Additionally, Russian forces launched 103 drones into Ukraine overnight, with 61 reportedly destroyed and 42 lost due to electronic jamming, according to Ukraine’s air force. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed to have shot down 61 Ukrainian drones, with no casualties reported, although falling drone debris caused damage to residential buildings and cars in western Russia.

By Khagan Isayev