WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The U.S. and an array of other NATO allies will send dozens of air defense systems in the coming months, including at least four of the powerful Patriot systems that Kyiv has been desperately seeking to help fight off Russian advances in the war, according to a new joint agreement.
鈥淭oday I鈥檓 announcing a historic donation of air defense equipment for Ukraine,鈥� President Joe Biden said Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington. 鈥淭he United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Romania and Italy will provide Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems.鈥�
In addition, he said that in the coming months the United States and others will provide dozens of other tactical air defense 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. There both 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 鈥渨ipe Ukraine off the map,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淎nd we know Putin won鈥檛 stop in Ukraine. But make no mistake, Ukraine can and will stop Putin.鈥�
According to the joint statement released Tuesday, the U.S., Germany and Romania will send Ukraine additional Patriot batteries, while the Netherlands and others will provide Patriot components to make up one more battery. Italy will provide a SAMP-T air defense system.
Other allies, including sa国际传媒, Norway, Spain and the United Kingdom, will provide a number of other systems that will help Ukraine expand its coverage. Those systems include NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS and Gepards. And other nations have agreed to provide munitions for those systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a social media post on Tuesday, made it clear that air defense is still his country's key request, and he has repeatedly asked for more Patriot systems.
鈥淲e are fighting for more air defense systems for Ukraine, and I鈥檓 confident we will succeed,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
Earlier this year, he said Ukraine urgently needs seven more Patriot batteries to fend off Russian strikes against the , the military and using destructive glide bombs.
The Patriot systems, he said, would help prevent Russian aircraft from flying close enough to drop the glide bombs on civilians and critical infrastructure. He said Russia had been firing 3,000 bombs into his country each month.
The commitment for new air defense systems comes as Russia continues its relentless bombardment of Ukraine, including a massive barrage that struck a children鈥檚 hospital in Kyiv on Monday and killed at least 42 people.
On Tuesday, Zelenskyy urged 鈥渄ecisive 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 sent Ukraine 鈥� one late last year and, according to U.S. officials, another last month. And Romania鈥檚 top defense body said late last month that the country would donate a Patriot missile system to neighboring Ukraine.
A number of European allies have been reluctant to part with their air defense systems, as they worry about possible threats from Russia as well.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin two years ago set up a coalition of more than 50 countries to help gather and coordinate contributions of weapons and training to Ukraine.
Lolita C. Baldor And Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press
