Russia’s deadly missile attacks on Ukraine this week have again urged the United States and its partners to equip the government in Kyiv with advanced air defense systems capable of repelling incoming fire.
The carnage – which stretched from Lviv in the west to the eastern city of Kharkiv – could have been far worse. The Ukrainian military intercepted about half of the 84 rockets and 24 armed drones fired by Russia on Monday and Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. More strikes were reported on Wednesday.
“If Ukraine gets a sufficient amount of modern and effective air defense systems, the key element of Russian terror – missile attacks – will cease to work,” Zelenskyi told Group of Seven leaders this week.
Two US air defense systems known as NASAMS are weeks away from delivery, the Pentagon said after the strikes, and efforts are being made to expedite the process.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Belgium that the United States and its partners would “do everything we can, as quickly as we can, to provide Ukrainian forces with what they need to protect the Ukrainian people.” , although he did not announce any new help.