NATO summit - USA and partners pledge to strengthen Kiev's air defenses
The USA and other NATO countries plan to provide additional equipment to Ukraine for defense against Russian air attacks. This was announced by US President Joe Biden at a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance in Washington. In a joint statement by the USA and several partners, there was also talk of "additional" Patriot air defense systems.
Furthermore, dozens of tactical air defense systems - such as the Nasams or Iris-T type - were supposed to go to Kiev, it was further stated. "These systems will further expand and strengthen Ukraine's air defense." The joint declaration came, among others, from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy.
Biden said in his speech to the heads of state and government that Ukraine should receive hundreds of additional interceptor jets in the coming year to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian rockets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged in recent months that more Patriot systems were necessary to protect Ukrainian cities and agglomerations.
The USA had already provided a Patriot system to Ukraine. Biden had authorized its delivery about a year and a half ago when Zelenskyy made his first foreign trip since the beginning of the Russian attack war in the USA. The US government also regularly supplies Ukraine with Patriot rockets.
Kiev has received a total of four Patriot systems according to its own statements. Three of these were provided by Germany. Another was offered by Romania, among others.
The Patriot air defense missile system is one of the most modern in the world. With it, enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles are combated. The interceptor missiles in a imaginary ring around the position can reach targets about 100 kilometers away and up to 30 kilometers high - depending on the missile used. With radar, the Patriot system first identifies which objects in the sky belong to the enemy. In the event of a threat, soldiers in the command post launch the missiles to neutralize the targets.
The war in Ukraine is one of the main topics at the NATO summit in Washington. The heads of state and government of the 32 member states of the NATO alliance are celebrating there the 75th anniversary of NATO.
The meeting falls in the hot phase of the US election campaign. In November, presidential elections are taking place in the USA. Biden is campaigning against challenger Donald Trump on all fronts to save his candidacy for the election in November. He had given a disastrous performance in the televised debate a week ago, promising several times and losing the thread. After the debate, a new debate erupted in the USA about whether Biden is the right candidate for the Democrats for the presidential election in November.
- At the NATO summit in Washington, discussions revolved around providing additional equipment to Ukraine for defense against Russian air attacks.
- In attendance at the summit were leaders from the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Italy, among others, who pledged additional Patriot air defense systems.
- Joe Biden announced during the ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of NATO in Washington that the USA and other NATO countries would supply Ukraine with more defense equipment.
- The joint declaration also included discussions about providing dozens of tactical air defense systems, such as the Nasams or Iris-T type, to strengthen Ukraine's air defense.
- Volodymyr Selenskyy had previously urged for more Patriot systems, stating that they were essential for protecting Ukrainian cities and agglomerations from Russian rockets.
- The USA had previously provided a Patriot system to Ukraine, and Gary Cohn, Biden's economic adviser, had authorized its delivery during Zelenskyy's first foreign trip.
- The delivery of the Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine has enabled them to combat enemy aircraft, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles up to 100 km away.
- The NATO summit in Washington was also a critical point in the US election campaign, with Biden campaigning against Donald Trump to secure his November candidacy.
- Germany, along with three other systems, provided three Patriot systems to Ukraine until now, while Romania also contributed one.
- The USA frequently supplies Ukraine with Patriot rockets for the defense system, ensuring it remains operational.
- In response to Russian air attacks, Ukraine has received a total of four Patriot systems, their modern defense technology enabling them to identify and neutralize threats.
- As the summit concluded, debates over Biden's abilities to lead the Democratic Party during the November elections continued to arise in the USA.
- In preparation for the conflicts ahead, Ukraine is expected to receive hundreds of additional interceptor jets from NATO partners in the coming year to better protect its cities from potential Russian rocket attacks.
