NATO countries agree to send more air defense systems to Ukraine, including Patriot systems, Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today.
"NATO has checked the existing capacities in the Alliance and there are systems that can be sent to Ukraine. Therefore, I expect new announcements about anti-aircraft defense systems soon," Stoltenberg said after a video meeting of the Alliance's defense ministers with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In addition to the Patriot, there are other weapons systems that the Allies can send, including SAMP-T systems, surface-to-air missiles of French-Italian production, Stoltenberg added.
"I'm not going to give exact numbers, but we're working with allies to make sure they make good decisions to supply new Patriot systems," he said.
However, no official commitment was made during the meeting, an Alliance diplomat told AFP.
Ukraine is asking its allies to send it air defense systems, including the Patriot systems, which are most effective against Russian hypersonic missiles, which have been striking Ukrainian cities and infrastructure in recent weeks.
The US, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece, Romania and Poland all have Patriot systems, according to diplomatic sources in Brussels.
US aid of more than 60 billion dollars, blocked for weeks in the US Congress due to stalling by Republican members of Congress, who support former President Donald Trump, could finally be passed on Saturday.
Stoltenberg also expressed hope that the bill will pass without further delay in the US Congress.
During the NATO-Ukraine meeting, ministers also agreed to deliver more 155-millimeter missiles needed by Ukrainian artillery, long-range missiles and drones, Stoltenberg said.
"What I can tell you is that help is already on the way," he added.
Zelensky: The capabilities of Ukraine's ground forces will be limited as long as Russia has air superiority
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, assessed today that the capabilities of its ground forces, with insufficient ammunition and manpower, are "limited" and will remain so as long as Russia, which has occupied parts of its territory, has air superiority.
"Unfortunately, it is obvious that now, while Russia has air superiority and can rely on the terror of its drones and missiles, our options on land are limited," reads his message to NATO countries.
As arms shipments to Kiev are delayed by obstruction in the US Congress, Ukraine has depleted its stockpile of ammunition and air defense missiles.
Meanwhile, Russia has increased its weapons production and has had the initiative in Ukraine, on the eastern front, for several months.
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