In an interview with The Post, Ukraine’s top diplomat said he is being less diplomatic in requesting more of the systems because Western backers don’t grasp the urgency.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba outside the Foreign Ministry building in Kyiv on Monday. KYIV — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wants the West’s extra, idle Patriot air defense batteries. And he’s not asking nicely anymore.
Western aid has declined in recent months — particularly from the United States, Ukraine’s biggest backer, where Republicans in Congress for months have blocked a roughly $60 billion package proposed by President Biden. That would cover Ukraine’s largest cities and leave at least one free to be closer to the battlefield, where Russian aviation has been punishing Ukraine’s troops on the ground using guided bombs.
In recent weeks, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian critical infrastructure, causing power outages in some cities, including Kharkiv. Kyiv is focusing its requests for more air defenses on the Patriot because it is the only weapon that can intercept and destroy Russian hypersonic ballistic missiles, such as the Kinzhal.
With the $60 billion U.S. package stalled, Kuleba said Kyiv had identified four other countries in Europe and Asia that have Patriots that could be transferred immediately to Ukraine. Still, he has not stopped lobbying the Americans to send some of their own.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China and Australia foreign ministers meeting: Two economies are complementaryChinese foreign minister Wang Yi met Australia's foreign affairs minister Penny Wong on Tuesday.
Read more »
Lithuania foreign minister calls for concerted effort to support Ukraine: 'It's about the future'European allies watch with 'concern' as U.S. secures little aid for Kyiv in latest spending bill, war with Russia rages on and Ukrainian soldiers report 'ammunition starvation.'
Read more »
Russian foreign minister hails soccer game with Serbia's national team and meets with counterpartRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with his Serbian counterpart in Moscow ahead of a soccer game between the countries’ national teams. The game Thursday will be the Russian men's squad’s first European friendly since the fighting in Ukraine began two years ago.
Read more »
Russian foreign minister hails soccer game with Serbia's national team and meets with counterpartRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has met with his Serbian counterpart in Moscow ahead of a soccer game between the countries’ national teams
Read more »
Bulgaria's foreign minister appoints largest group in parliament to form country's new governmentBulgarian President Rumen Radev has assigned the task of forming a new government to the center-right GERB-UDF coalition, the largest group in parliament.
Read more »
Bulgaria's foreign minister to form the next government in power-sharing dealBulgarian President Rumen Radev has tapped the largest group in parliament, the center-right GERB-UDF coalition, to form the country’s new government
Read more »