Zelensky warns Ukraine’s air defense missiles are running out
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns that Ukraine could run out of air defense missiles and would have to start choosing what to protect.
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Finland's President Alexander Stubb, left, arrives for a press conference with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev Ukraine, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP)
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Saturday that Ukraine might exhaust its supply of air defense missiles should Russia continue its relentless long-range bombing campaign.
The Ukrainian leader's most dire warning yet regarding the worsening condition of his country's air defenses comes after weeks of Russian targets on energy infrastructure, urban areas, and towns using a wide array of missiles and drones.
“If they keep hitting [Ukraine] every day the way they have for the last month, we might run out of missiles, and the partners know it,” Zelensky said on Ukrainian television. He said that Ukraine had enough air defense stockpiles to cope for the moment, adding that it was already having to make difficult choices about what to protect.
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He specifically emphasized the necessity for Patriot missiles. These advanced US air defense systems proved crucial during Russian targets involving ballistic and hypersonic missiles, he noted, highlighting the requirement for 25 systems to provide comprehensive coverage across the country.
The president also mentioned that Ukraine now lacks sufficient ammunition to continue the war. However, he added that the country has begun to receive some ammunition from its partners to bolster its defensive capabilities. “We don’t have shells for counter-offensive actions. As for the defense – there are several initiatives, and we’re receiving weapons,” he added.
He stated that his country would be receptive to accepting a US aid package involving a loan. "We will agree to any options," he confirmed, stressing the importance of swift aid delivery by stating, "The sooner, the better."
No "silver bullet" weapon
Earlier on Friday, in an interview with the German daily Bild, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that the forthcoming deliveries of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would not shift the course of the war in Ukraine.
He mentioned that the allies were preparing to dispatch F-16s and ammunition to Ukraine, with ongoing training for Ukrainian pilots already underway.
Stoltenberg expressed appreciation for the forthcoming delivery of warplanes as another demonstration of allied support for Kiev, noting that it would enhance Ukrainian defenses. But he acknowledged that no "silver bullet" weapon could definitively secure victory for Ukraine.
