Volodymyr Zelensky pressuring NATO. The Ukrainian president, in the most complicated moment of the war with Russia, presented a list of peremptory demands to the Alliance. Kiev, in particular, needs air defense systems to counter Moscow’s daily attacks.
“Putin must be brought down and our skies must be safe again. And this depends solely on your choice. The choice whether life has the same value everywhere, whether you have the same attitude towards all partners. The choice whether we are truly allies “, Zelensky said during the meeting of NATO defense ministers.
Zelensky’s list of requests to NATO
Zelensky articulated his demands in 5 points. First: “We need seven more Patriot or similar air defense systems, at a minimum, that can save lives and really change the situation,” he said, noting that NATO allies have these systems.
Second point: Zelensky recalled that “we have been talking for a while about about a million artillery ammunition, they must finally be delivered to the front.”
Third theme, Zelensky also addressed the issue of long-range weapons: “It is absurd when partners are afraid of their own strength, the more long-range weapons are in the hands of our soldiers, the closer to peace,” he said. The reference is in particular to the Taurus missiles that Germany does not intend to supply to Kiev. With German weapons, in theory, Ukraine would be able to strike deep into Russian territory. For this reason, Berlin continues to say no, also rejecting the Ukrainian proposal which would provide for German supervision – without sending troops – over the use of missiles.
In the fourth point, Zelensky also reiterated the requests on the aviation front: “The question is not the number of promised fighters, but the actual number in the skies.” In the end, fifth and final pointthe crucial question of the speed of supplies: “This year we cannot wait for decisions to be made – he concluded – I ask you to consider our requests as soon as possible, for your decisions on each element”.
Stoltenberg’s promise
At least partially reassuring Zelensky was provided by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg who expects “new announcements” from the allies on the delivery of air defense systems to Ukraine, not only “Patriot” missiles, but also “Samp-T”. .
“President Volodymyr Zelensky informed the defense ministers of the situation on the battlefield and the acute need for increased air defense. The ministers agreed to increase military supports, including air defense systems. NATO has mapped existing capabilities among allies and there are systems that can be made available to Kiev, so I expect new announcements on air defense capabilities for Ukraine. I welcome Germany’s efforts to deliver another Patriot system to Ukraine.”
“In addition to the Patriots – he underlined – there are other systems that can be delivered, including the Samp-Ts. Many allies who do not have systems available have promised to give financial support to Ukraine so that it can purchase them. We are also working with the industry to increase production and to retrofit systems, to make them operational and fit for purpose. The Czech Republic has confirmed that they have procured 500,000 artillery ammunition through their ammunition initiative,” he concludes.
Tags: Zelensky requests NATO allies
