The Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, at NATO headquarters, stated that Ukraine urgently needs at least 20 additional Hawks, NASAMS, or IRIS-T systems. This will help avoid blackouts amid Russian shelling, Report informs via RBC Ukraine.
On the eve of the meeting with NATO foreign ministers, Sibiha said he would raise the issue of supporting Ukraine in the winter.
“We have already informed our partners about our urgent needs, and we are thankful to them for such a prompt reaction. We are speaking about the urgent suply of at least 20 additional systems, such as Hawk, NASAMS, or IRIS-T. And it will help us avoid a blackout. And we understand that the Russians are trying to deprive us to produce energy,” he added.
Air defense systems are critical for Ukraine in the context of a full-scale war, as they protect civilian infrastructure, residential areas, and strategically important facilities from missile strikes and air attacks. Effective air defense not only minimizes civilian casualties but also reduces the enemy's influence on the economy and the moral state of society.
Given Russia's active use of modern missiles and drones, integrating the latest Western air defense systems, such as Patriot, NASAMS, or IRIS-T, allows Ukraine to significantly improve its security.
On December 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a €600 million package of support for Ukraine. The aid will also include Iris air defense systems.