Ukraine wants more Western air defenses ‘right now’

KYIV — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is hoping that Wednesday’s NATO-Ukraine Council meeting will be followed with prompt commitments to help his country’s air defenses fend off waves of devastating Russian air attacks, he told POLITICO.

“First and foremost, we expect the meeting to expedite critical decisions on further strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Both in terms of modern systems and their ammunition," he said in a statement, adding: "We are deeply grateful to all of our partners who continue to provide Ukraine with the means to defend its sky.”

The NATO-Ukraine Council is gathering on Wednesday in Brussels in reaction to a recent upsurge in attacks from Russia that have hammered cities across Ukraine, killing dozens of people.

Last week, Ukraine asked the alliance for a meeting to discuss air defenses after Moscow battered Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities with a combination of Iranian-made Shahed drones and waves of cruise and ballistic missiles.

The meeting comes two days after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged other EU nations to deliver more military aid to Ukraine. Berlin — which is the No. 2 donor in the world after the U.S. but still refuses to send its powerful Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv — has also asked Brussels to check with countries on their planned support for the Ukrainian government.

As the recent Russian air attacks aim to deplete Ukraine’s defense resources, Kuleba is asking allies to send stocks regularly: "Ensuring regular supplies of missiles for Patriots, IRIS-T, NASAMS, and other systems is a top priority that must be completed today, not tomorrow."

"Furthermore, the more successful Ukraine’s air defense, the less likely it is that a Russian missile or drone will accidentally fly into bordering NATO airspace,” he added. In late December, Poland’s armed forces chief said a Russian missile crossed through Polish airspace before heading back into Ukraine.

“On all accounts, it makes sense for our allies to mobilize all available forces to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses right now,” Kuleba said.

Laura Kayali reported from Paris.