In a recent interview with Reuters, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba voiced concerns about the inadequate air defense support Ukraine is receiving from its partners against Russian missile attacks, despite those nations having over 100 Patriot systems in their arsenals.
Kuleba highlighted this issue ahead of his meetings with NATO counterparts in Brussels, pointing to the necessity of bolstering Ukraine’s air defenses in the face of escalating Russian offensives on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Kuleba emphasized the critical need for additional Patriot missile defense systems, stating that the few systems provided by partners, while appreciated, fall short of what is required to counter the scale of the conflict.
He specifically mentioned that a mere five to seven more systems from the available stockpile could significantly enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities, questioning the reluctance to fulfill this modest request.
March witnessed a stark increase in Russian aggression, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reporting over 3,000 guided aerial bombs, 600 drones, and 400 missiles launched against Ukraine.
Highlighting the difficulty in intercepting the 94 ballistic missiles used in these attacks due to their speed, Kuleba urged for greater political will among allies to address this dire situation.
Kuleba argued that the reluctance to provide additional Patriot systems is puzzling, especially since Ukraine’s allies do not face the same level of missile threat.
He contended that supporting Ukraine with the necessary defenses is critical to defeating Russia and averting a larger European conflict.
Kuleba starkly warned that failure to support Ukraine could lead to war spreading across Europe, including missile attacks on cities like Brussels.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assurances of no intention to invade other European nations, Kuleba’s remarks came as NATO foreign ministers convened to strategize long-term military support for Ukraine.
He responded to a proposal by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg for a 100 billion euro fund to assist Ukraine over five years, stressing the importance of these funds being additional and not just a reallocation of existing commitments.
With NATO previously struggling to raise 500 million euros for Ukraine’s military reforms, Kuleba labeled the proposed increase to 20 billion euros per year as a monumental challenge, insisting on the necessity for this support to materialize as new funding.