Ukraine asks its allies to speed up the delivery of air defence systems; Zelenskyy expects a new Russian offensive
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging Western allies to speed up the delivery of air defence systems and interceptor missiles. Ukraine is preparing for another winter of intense Russian shelling, which could prove to be a crucial phase in the fight against the Russian invasion, according to Bloomberg.
This issue was discussed during meetings between the Ukrainian president and European leaders, as well as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at the summit in Yerevan.
Kyiv has been consistently asking its partners for air defence systems since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. This need has now become more acute, as Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain following years of Russian strikes on civilian targets.
In the early years of the war, the most significant changes on the battlefield tended to occur outside the winter months. Now, the development of drones has complicated offensive manoeuvres and contributed to a stalemate on the front line. As a result, winter attacks on cities, transport and energy facilities have become a significant part of the fighting.
According to sources, Zelenskyy told allies that he expects another Russian offensive this summer. At the same time, Russian troops are currently struggling to make significant advances and are suffering heavy losses.
Against the backdrop of stalled peace talks, Kyiv believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be counting on the conflict in the Middle East to divert attention and resources. This could make Ukraine particularly vulnerable during the cold months.
Earlier this year, freezing temperatures combined with Russia’s relentless strikes on energy infrastructure left millions of people without heating, electricity and water for several weeks.
Stocks of air defence missiles are also under additional pressure, as the US has effectively stopped funding military support for Ukraine. The main financial burden of purchasing American weapons through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirement List programme has fallen on European allies.
Ukraine is primarily interested in American Patriot systems and the missiles for them. It is these systems that are capable of effectively countering the most destructive ballistic missiles, which Russia can produce in large quantities.
During meetings in Yerevan, Zelenskyy asked partners to contribute to the PURL programme with a focus on the Patriot. European missile systems, in particular the Franco-Italian SAMP/T, are not considered a full-fledged replacement in the near future due to their limited numbers.
“Every contribution to the PURL programme matters. We need new PURL packages this year, this May. This helps us defend ourselves against threats,” Zelenskyy said during an address to European leaders and the Canadian Prime Minister at a meeting in Armenia.
Separately, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and its partners must prepare for winter and energy challenges.
“We need to help one another prepare for winter and tackle energy challenges,” said the president.
Ukraine is also calling on its EU partners to respond more seriously to the Russian threat by increasing the production and procurement of weapons. Kyiv proposes working with the European Union to develop European systems to counter drones and air defence, though such projects take time.
At the same time, Ukraine is currently carrying out regular drone strikes on targets deep within Russia, particularly in the Ural Mountains region. Oil facilities and terminals are also being targeted, as Kyiv seeks to strike these to reduce the Kremlin’s sources of war funding.
Russia’s spring offensive in Ukraine is currently yielding only limited territorial gains.
Kyiv also recognises the need to prepare for the coming cold season earlier than usual. Ukraine needs resources to repair shelters and damaged energy infrastructure.
“We need to focus on what we will do if Russia does not end this war,” said Zelenskyy.
