Germany has written letters to dozens of countries, including the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, calling for more air defense systems for Ukraine to protect cities, troops and critical infrastructure from the "deadly onslaught" of Russian missiles. This was reported by the Financial Times, according to UNN.
Details
In a letter to other NATO members, a copy of which was obtained by the Financial Times and confirmed by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, German Foreign Minister Annalena Burbock and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said they were launching a global initiative to address Ukraine's air defense gaps.
They added that they have also reached out to "a wide range of non-NATO partners." The officials declined to name those countries.
German ministers said Russia is trying to destroy Odesa, the Black Sea port city they called Ukraine's "economic lifeline," and industrial Kharkiv, and a wave of attacks on energy infrastructure has caused even more damage than in the winter of 2022-23.
We must help Ukraine defend itself against this murderous onslaught," they said, calling on Germany's partners to join the initiative known as Immediate Action on Air Defense (IAAD).
"We urge you to take an inventory of all air defense systems in your arsenals and consider what can be transferred to Ukraine - whole systems or parts of them on a permanent or limited basis," they said.
In his statement to the FT, Kuleba said that Kyiv is "very grateful to Germany for its leadership on the issue of Ukraine's air defense.
"Not only has it provided its Patriot system and missiles, but our German friends are actively looking for ways to engage other countries that can help," he said.
Officials in Kyiv said that Kuleba discussed with Burbock at NATO headquarters in Brussels this month about finding affordable systems around the world. Germany, along with France and the United States, leads the "Coalition of Integrated Air and Missile Defense Capabilities" for Ukraine.
"Strengthening air defense is a matter of survival for thousands of people in Ukraine and the best defense for our own security," Burbank said at a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers in Capri, Italy, on Wednesday. "We and our partners around the world must do more to confront Russian terror from the skies," she said.
Today, the Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection of Germany Robert Habeckarrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit.
On Friday, April 19, the NATO-Ukraine Council will meet to discuss Ukraine's urgent need for more support, including in the areas of air defense and artillery shells.