NATO makes 'historic' Ukraine air defense pledge

RT
Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:29 UTC

© Sean Gallup / Getty Images

A reservist stands next to a launcher of a Patriot missile system in Munster, Germany on April 18, 2024

The US-led bloc will provide four new Patriot systems and "dozens" of other interceptors

NATO countries have promised to provide Ukraine with five additional strategic air defense systems, in response to Kiev's pleas to help fend off Russian airstrikes. US President Joe Biden announced the "historic donation" during a summit in Washington, where NATO leaders gathered on Tuesday to mark the 75th anniversary of the bloc.

The US, Germany, and Romania will donate a new Patriot battery each, while the Netherlands "and other partners" will supply components to "enable the operation of an additional Patriot battery," according to a statement signed by several NATO members and Ukraine. Italy has pledged to deliver a new SAMP-T system.

"In addition, in the coming months, the United States and partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, HAWKs, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS, and Gepard systems," the statement read.

Overall, Washington has promised to provide Ukraine with "hundreds of additional air defense interceptors over the next year."

Addressing the attendees of the NATO summit, Biden said that the US will prioritize Ukraine in terms of weapons deliveries. "The United States will make sure that when we export critical defense interceptors, Ukraine goes to the front of the line. They will get this assistance before anyone else gets it," the president said.

Biden reaffirmed the commitment to back Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. "Today NATO is stronger than it's ever been in its history," he added.

Kiev has warned for months that the number of anti-air systems provided so far is not nearly enough to effectively deter Russian airstrikes. Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky told NATO in April that Kiev needs at least seven additional Patriot batteries or similar weapons. Moscow has reported destroying several Patriot launchers since 2023.

Russia has maintained that the deliveries of Western weapons will lead to more escalation, but will ultimately fail to stop the Russian military from achieving its aims in the conflict.

Comment:
"Today NATO is stronger than it's ever been in its history," - Biden
Compared to non-NATO countries, many NATO countries are weaker and in its eagerness to expand it has managed to destabilize Europe to an unprecedented degree since WWII. If one takes another perspective, then NATO and the US has European countries and the EU under the foot. At the same time, there is the conflict in Gaza and just as the downing of MH17 over Eastern Ukraine on 17 July 2014 at the time served as a distraction from the mayhem Israel was working there, the conflict in Ukraine probably has to be kept going for the very same purpose, without negating that NATO and the forces behind it have interests in dismembering and subjugating Russia to exploit its resources, both human and material, and prevent the rise of a multipolar world.

From the same source:
9 Jul, 2024 11:54
Kremlin reveals position on NATO summit

The US-led bloc is hostile to Russia and is fueling the Ukraine conflict, so its decisions matter, Dmitry Peskov has said

The Russian government will pay "maximum attention" to whatever decisions are announced at a NATO summit hosted by the US this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Leaders of the military bloc are convening on Tuesday in Washington for three days of meetings. The organization's 32 member states are reportedly expected to endorse a Germany-based long-term mission for supplying weapons to Ukraine.

Peskov reminded journalists on Tuesday that NATO "considers Russia an enemy, a rival" and "has repeatedly openly declared an intention to inflict strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield." It "is directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of Ukraine," he added.

"So we certainly will pay close attention to the rhetoric that will be coming out, the talks and the decisions that will be put on paper," the Russian official added.

The US and its allies have accused Russia of launching an "unprovoked" attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and have vowed to stand with Kiev for "as long as it takes" to prevail. Moscow considers the conflict to be part of a wider US-led proxy war against Russia.

Ukraine wants to be a NATO member and maintains that its fight with Russia gives it the right to be fast-tracked to accession. But member states and NATO's leadership have said the country will not join the organization while hostilities continue.

Jens Stoltenberg, the outgoing NATO secretary-general, said last week that Ukraine may not be ready to join even in 2034. Nevertheless, continuing to support Kiev with weapons is "a precondition for any future membership" he told CBS News.

According to media previews of the Washington summit, Ukraine will be offered a vaguely-defined "bridge" to membership, but no definite timetable for crossing it.

The proposed German military assistance mission is supposed to "institutionalize" long-term weapons supplies to Ukraine, reports say. Putting NATO in charge would put it out of the hands of former US President Donald Trump, should he win the presidential election in November. The presumed Republican nominee has stated on the campaign trail that his country is spending too much money on Kiev, compared to European NATO members.

Earlier this year, the GOP held up in Congress for months a request by President Joe Biden to allocate an additional $60 billion in Ukraine spending. Republican lawmakers claimed that domestic policy priorities, such as security at the southern border, needed to be addressed first.