US, UK, Netherlands, Denmark to send 100s of AA missiles to Ukraine
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The announcement comes ahead of today's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact group.
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In this image released by the US DoD, German soldiers fire the Patriot weapons system at the NATO Firing Missile installation in Chania, Greece, November 18, 2017 (AP)
A joint statement published by the US, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK read that the four countries are planning to send hundreds of short- and medium-range air defense missiles along with associated weapons systems to Ukraine.
"The initiative will deliver hundreds of short and medium-range air defense missiles and associated systems required to protect Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure and further ensure the success of counter-offensive operations in coming months," the statement published by the UK Defense Ministry said. "Delivery of the equipment has already begun and should be complete within several weeks."
This announcement comes ahead of today's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact group, the statement added.
Read more: US turns to Japan for munitions to supply Ukraine as arms stocks fall
The Russian armed forces damaged a US-made Patriot air defense system in Ukraine due to missile barrages in and around Kiev, a US official told CNN on May 16.
The US claimed that it was still assessing to what degree the system was damaged by the Russian missiles, and that will determine whether the system would need to be pulled back or just repaired on the battlefield.
"A high-precision strike by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system in the city of Kiev hit a US-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile system," Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday in a post on Telegram.
According to the Ministry, Russian air defense systems have intercepted seven Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles over the past day.
The West has been urged to deliver progressively heavier weapons, including tanks, drones, and fighter planes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters last Friday that the Ukrainian "counteroffensive" in the special military operation zone has begun and that Kiev is resorting to its strategic reserves.
On Tuesday, Putin said if Kiev continues to purchase all of its weaponry and equipment from foreign countries, Ukraine's military sector would soon cease to exist because it is creating nothing.
"Ukraine's defense industry will soon completely cease to exist. What are they producing? They are importing ammunition, equipment, weapons, everything. So one cannot live and last long. That is why the issue related to demilitarization is in a very practical dimension," Putin highlighted.
Read more: Russia downs 6 Ukrainian UAVs, jams 3 over Crimea
