US President Joe Biden has vowed to provide Ukraine with five new strategic air defense systems to counter continuous Russian attacks during a powerful speech that welcomed NATO leaders to Washington DC.
In a concise but forceful address at the summit’s opening, the president emphasized the military alliance’s strength in the face of a “pivotal moment” in the war between Russia and Ukraine. He declared that the US would collaborate with Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Romania to donate Patriot missile batteries and other systems to aid Ukraine, amidst increasing civilian casualties in the conflict.
The announcement comes just two days after a Russian missile destroyed a children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv – an attack described by the city’s mayor as one of the worst since the start of the war. Monday’s attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 43 people and left over a hundred more injured. Russia denied responsibility, but the UN and analysts who spoke to BBC Verify attributed the blame to Moscow.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has long appealed to his Western allies for increased supplies of air defenses. In total, NATO plans to donate five strategic air defense systems and dozens of smaller, strategic anti-air batteries over the next year.
“We don’t see how he can come back after the debate,” one unnamed European envoy told Reuters news agency. “I can’t imagine him being at the helm of the US and NATO for four more years.”
The White House credited Mr. Biden’s leadership for the expansion of NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, citing Finland and Sweden’s recent accession to the alliance. Shashank Joshi, defense editor at the Economist, highlighted that while the Patriot missile batteries are “very good at shooting down ballistic missiles,” Ukraine “needs a mix of systems” for long-term sustainability.
Leaders from the 32 member countries are converging on the US capital for the summit. Joining them is the UK’s new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Before heading to Washington, he expressed Labour’s unwavering support for NATO. Asked by reporters traveling with him to the summit for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Sir Keir emphasized that the gathering should be seen as a clear and united resolve by NATO allies to stand with Ukraine and oppose Russian aggression.
Sir Keir is slated to meet Mr. Biden on Wednesday, as well as Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress. Tuesday’s event was steeped in the alliance’s history, hosted in the very venue where the original treaty was signed decades ago. Near the conclusion of his speech, Mr. Biden invited NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to the stage to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor.
Original story by BBC World news
