BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday pressed member countries to give more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated Kyiv’s almost daily appeals for more Western air defense equipment.
“NATO has mapped out existing capabilities across the alliance and there are systems that can be made available to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg told reporters after an online meeting of defense ministers from the 32-nation alliance, which Zelenskyy took part in remotely.
Russia’s air force is vastly more powerful than Ukraine’s, but sophisticated missile systems provided by Kyiv’s Western partners are a major threat to Russian aviation as the Kremlin’s forces slowly push forward along the around 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line in the war.
Kyiv is seeking at least seven Patriot batteries. Stoltenberg declined to say which NATO nations have air defense systems or how many might be available, saying that this is classified information, but he insisted that he expects the countries to make new announcements of support soon, not only Patriots.
Sweden beats France, Britain relegated after losing to Norway at hockey worlds
Xi sends reply letter to Butuka Academy of Papua New Guinea
Exhibiting a timeless elegance
Strictly star Giovanni Pernice's former partner Rose Ayling
Ancient answers to modern questions
2023 Beijing Cultural Forum Arts gala was held to inheriting excellent culture
Xi delivers speech at Spring Festival reception, extending festive greetings to all Chinese
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
China's homegrown C919 jetliner flies to Singapore for airshow