According to a new joint agreement, the U.S. and several other NATO allies will send Ukraine dozens of air defence systems in the coming months. This includes at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been urgently seeking to help counter Russian advances in the war.

“Today I’m announcing a historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington. “The United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems.”

Additionally, he mentioned that in the coming months, the United States and others will provide dozens of other tactical air defence systems and hundreds of munitions for them.

The announcement was made with much fanfare as the summit opened at the Mellon Auditorium, where the North Atlantic Treaty was first signed in 1949, establishing NATO. Both President Biden and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg spoke urgently about the importance of the alliance and the need to stand together in support of Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin wants nothing less than to “wipe Ukraine off the map,” Biden said. “And we know Putin won’t stop in Ukraine. But make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin.”

According to the joint statement released on Tuesday, the U.S., Germany, and Romania will send additional Patriot batteries to Ukraine. The Netherlands and other countries will provide Patriot components to assemble another battery. Italy will contribute a SAMP-T air defence system.

Other allies, such as Canada, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom, will provide various systems like NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS, and Gepards to help Ukraine expand its air defence coverage. Additionally, several nations have committed to supplying munitions for these systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized in a social media post on Tuesday that air defence remains his country's primary request, reiterating his repeated calls for additional Patriot systems.

“We are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine, and I’m confident we will succeed,” he said. “We are also striving to secure more aircraft, including F-16s. Additionally, we are pushing for enhanced security guarantees for Ukraine, including weapons, financial aid, and political support.”

Earlier this year, he stated that Ukraine urgently requires seven additional Patriot batteries to defend against Russian attacks targeting the power grid, military installations, and civilian areas using destructive glide bombs.

He mentioned that the Patriot systems would help deter Russian aircraft from flying close enough to drop glide bombs on civilians and critical infrastructure. He also noted that Russia had been launching 3,000 bombs into Ukraine each month.

This commitment to new air defence systems comes amidst Russia's ongoing intense bombardment of Ukraine, which included a devastating attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 42 people.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy urged “decisive actions" from the U.S. and Europe to strengthen his troops and vowed to do everything possible to defeat Russia.

The United States has already delivered two Patriot missile systems to Ukraine — one late last year and another, according to U.S. officials, last month. Additionally, Romania announced late last month that it would donate a Patriot missile system to Ukraine.

Several European allies have been hesitant to provide their air defence systems, citing concerns about potential threats from Russia.

Two years ago, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin established a coalition of over 50 countries to gather and coordinate contributions of weapons and training for Ukraine.

Image source: AP