Strikes on Ukraine raise pressure on allies to send advanced air defense
Ukraine #Ukraine
BRUSSELS — The string of strikes across Ukraine against cities and key infrastructure on Monday has galvanized long-standing calls from the government to its allies for more sophisticated air defense systems and longer range weapons.
The Russian attacks, which came days after explosions at the Crimean Bridge, appeared to signal a significant escalation and will raise pressure on the United States and other European countries that have at times been reluctant to provide Ukraine with the latest in military technology for fear of antagonizing Russia.
Within hours of the strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky said he had held emergency phone calls with both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Russia strikes Kyiv and cities across Ukraine after Crimea bridge attack
With Macron he discussed “air defense, the need for a tough European and international reaction, as well as increased pressure on the Russian Federation.” He said Scholz agreed to an emergency meeting of the Group of Seven most industrialized nations.
Defense officials from around the world will gather in Brussels this week for a meeting of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, as well as a meeting of NATO defense ministers.
“The best response to russian missile terror is the supply of anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems to Ukraine — protect the sky over Ukraine!” Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted on Monday. “This will protect our cities and our people. This will protect the future of Europe.”
Even before the strikes Monday, the country’s top officials were loudly proclaiming the need for boosted air defenses.
Dmytro Kuleba, the country’s foreign minister, tweeted Sunday after Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia that “we urgently need more modern air defense and missile defense systems to save innocent lives. I urge partners to speed up deliveries.”
While Zelensky said the same day that “it is necessary to accelerate the provision of a sufficient number of effective air defense systems to Ukraine.”
Negotiations on increased defense and political and financial support for Ukraine are the only format that can “really bring peace closer,” he said.
The Pentagon said in late September that it will deliver two advanced antiaircraft systems, called the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, within the next two months — something Ukraine had long been asking for.
Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that “instead of talking we need air defense, MLRS, longer-range projectiles,” referring to multiple-launch rocket systems.
Estonia’s intelligence chief seemed to agree and urged Western countries to consider sending longer-range weapons to Ukraine. “We have a self-interest in giving Ukraine what they ask for,” Mikk Marran said in a Yahoo News interview.