By KYIV. Jan 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that Ukraine is negotiating not only about new Patriot batteries, but also about the supply of new NASAMS, Iris-T, and Crotale systems, since air defense and missile defense systems are a priority.
"The first group of needs concerns all, without exception, air defense and missile defense systems, in particular, and ammunition for them. Ukraine needs as many high-tech air defense systems as possible, and therefore we are negotiating not only about new Patriot batteries, but also about the supply of new NASAMS, Iris-T, and Crotale systems. We are grateful to the United States, Germany, Norway and France for the decisions already taken. We are working to expedite such decisions either from them or from other countries," Kuleba said during an online briefing on Wednesday.
He noted that the President, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense are engaged in this work on a daily basis.
Kuleba also stressed that Ukraine is interested in receiving additional anti-aircraft installations, such as Gepard and Vulcan, as well as portable air defense systems, such as Stinger and others.
"All these means are necessary so that the Ukrainian sky becomes an impregnable wall for a terrorist country as soon as possible and we can protect our peaceful cities and critical infrastructure and citizens," the Foreign Minister noted.
In addition, he added that artillery shells of all calibers remain another important need.
"Ukrainian artillerymen do not get tired of using them effectively, so we appeal to all partner countries to expedite the corresponding additional deliveries as much as possible," he said.
According to him, now Ukraine is working with partners to reach a new level in providing the Armed Forces of Ukraine with artillery systems and armored vehicles of all types.
