NATO is aware of Ukraine’s request to provide new air defense systems, the Secretary General said.
Ukraine needs 19 more air defense systems to protect its energy infrastructure from Russian attacks. This is what NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a press conference with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in Brussels on Wednesday, December 18.
Rutte mentioned that in Brussels he will first hold a bilateral meeting with Zelensky, after which other European leaders will join him.
“We know your request… I think 19 systems (air defense – ed.) will be delivered to Ukraine to protect critical infrastructure. So it’s all on the agenda… Very high on the agenda is to make sure that the president , his team, Ukraine was in the best position the day they decided to start peace negotiations,” he said.
The Secretary General of NATO emphasized that the Western states should do everything possible to provide Ukraine with the necessary weapons systems, especially air defense.
Zelensky said that in the next two days he will work in Brussels to develop “a common European position on how to secure Ukraine, strengthen us, our state, our people, strengthen our army.”
We remind you that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga called on partners to provide NASAMS, HAWK or IRIS-T air defense systems.
The previous day, Zelensky spoke to the United States and Europe, reminding them of the promise to provide a large number of air defense systems as compensation for the inability to invite Ukraine to NATO.
Source: korrespondent
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