"I do not want to be a buzzkill, but we need Patriot": NATO's 75th anniversary turned into a discussion of air defense systems for Ukraine. All details

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke at NATO headquarters in Brussels during events marking the 75th anniversary of the Alliance. He called on Ukraine's partners to provide air defense systems to Ukraine's defenders, and it seems he was heard.

"I would not want to be a buzzkill, but my message today is Patriot," Kuleba said. He explained that the provision of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine depends only on NATO allies, "who have a lot of them."

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister explained to his partners why Ukraine needs Patriots now in detail, "Russia is increasingly using ballistic missiles in its attacks on our country, which can only be intercepted by these American systems.

Apparently, Kuleba managed to convince his interlocutors. The 75th anniversary of the Alliance and the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council turned into a search for air defense systems for Ukraine. After the events, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg noted that the member states "understand the urgency" of providing Ukraine with air defense systems. And some of them have agreed to examine their weapons stockpiles to see if they can provide us with more missile defense systems.

"Several allies have already pledged to investigate what they can deliver. I can't say more specifically before they draw their conclusions, but there are several countries that may make announcements about such assistance in the coming days," the NATO Secretary General said.

Separately, Stoltenberg welcomed the allocation of about 600 million euros from Germany to support the Czech-led artillery initiative, the provision of 10,000 drones from the UK, as well as "even more missiles and armored vehicles" from France and a new military aid package for Ukraine from Finland.

Kuleba also did not name all the countries that are currently deciding where to find and how to transfer air defense systems to Ukraine. However, he did mention several meetings in Brussels. Among them was a meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström. "We discussed Sweden's ability to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend its sky from Russian air terror," Kuleba said.

Dmytro Kuleba also spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. The parties discussed "immediate measures in response to Russia's missile terror." The Ukrainian Foreign Minister urged our American partners to find ways to provide us with additional Patriot air defense systems as soon as possible. "I am grateful to the Secretary for taking immediate steps to reciprocate this call," the minister said.

Germany has also initiated a search for Patriot air defense systems that could be transferred to Ukraine, Minister Kuleba said. According to him, Germany is taking "immediate measures to analyze all systems available in the world, including Patriot batteries and other air defense systems, and is looking for possible combinations to supply these batteries to Ukraine."

In her turn, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted that the participants of the Council "clearly heard" the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.

In this regard, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that words of unity and solidarity with Ukraine without significant arms supplies and security guarantees turn into cynicism. "Ukrainians have performed miracles and have repeatedly put the 'experts' in an awkward position. We should be grateful for such an ally, but instead of helping them win, we are asking them to fight with their hands tied behind their backs," Landsbergis said.

As reported, Ukraine needs five to seven Patriot air defense systems from the United States. This will help weaken the enemy's army, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Russian propagandists and some Western media claimed that in early March, the occupiers hit two Patriot launchers near Pokrovsk with an Iskander missile. However, the American Institute for the Study of War emphasized that they had found no evidence of this.

The aggressor country continues to "brag" about the alleged destruction of these air defense systems in Ukraine. In particular, the day before, the occupiers claimed that a strike on Kyiv on March 25 "destroyed" Patriot air defense systems at Zhuliany airport.

Between May 2023 and January 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force shot down 25 Russian X-47 Kinzhal missiles using Patriot air defense systems. However, in general, these systems are not enough in our country.

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