The Ukrainian ambassador to NATO, Aliona Getmanchuk, stated that Ukraine needs more air defenses, but allies are hesitant about their ability to assist Kyiv against Russia's increasing attacks.
Immediate Need for Air Defense Systems
Getmanchuk said, "Their logic is simple: Can we be effective against this level of terror while Ukraine's immediate need is Patriot air defense systems, and we do not have enough of them?" He continued that allies should see that helping Ukraine is actually in their own interests as well.
He added, "We should not view the assistance that enables Ukraine to defend itself as merely supportive of Ukraine. This is also in NATO's interests. The more drones and missiles Ukraine can destroy in its skies, the fewer will enter NATO's neighboring countries."
Weapon Exchange and Immediate Needs
Getmanchuk emphasized that Western countries still have air defense missile stocks to donate, including missiles that are nearing the end of their lifespan. He said, "There is no better way to retire them than to use them in the skies of Ukraine."
Kyiv proposes a solution: allies should deliver air defense missiles from their current stocks, and Ukraine will later replace them with missiles it has already ordered. Getmanchuk does not see this exchange as "aid" and states, "What we need is to get through this winter."
Ukraine is currently placing significant orders and utilizing funds from partners and a €90 billion loan from the European Union to support Ukraine. These contracts include hundreds of Patriot missiles of the PAC-2 and PAC-3 types, as well as European systems like SAMP/T and Aster 30 and IRIS-T missiles.
Getmanchuk also called for increased funding from member countries for the NATO-led PURL program, in which allies purchase American weapons and donate them to Ukraine. NATO has stated that the PURL program now supplies 90% of Ukraine's Patriot air defense missiles.
The Ukrainian ambassador emphasized that helping Ukraine now will also benefit allies by reducing reconstruction costs after the war ends. He said, "The more we protect today, the less we will have to rebuild tomorrow."
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