Kyiv: An increasing number of NATO allies are falling short of their promises to accelerate the delivery of air defense systems and other vital military equipment to Ukraine. Despite the urgent need to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russia’s ongoing attacks, several member states have not fulfilled the commitments made during the recent summit in Washington. According to sources familiar with the situation, some countries have yet to deliver even the minimum number of long-range defense systems they pledged, Bloomberg reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has reiterated his calls for swift assistance from allies as Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russian territory earlier this month. Zelenskiy voiced his frustration with the delays in receiving fresh U.S. weapon supplies and urged for faster deliveries. “There are no vacations in war,” Zelenskiy said during a national address on Sunday. “Decisions are needed, as is timely logistics for the announced aid packages. I especially address this to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.”
The NATO air-defense commitment, a cornerstone of the alliance’s support outlined at the July summit, includes both new and prior commitments. U.S. President Joe Biden hailed it as a “historic donation.” The U.S., Germany, and Romania each promised to provide a Patriot missile system, while a fourth system is being assembled from contributions by various nations. Italy also committed to sending a SAMP-T surface-to-air missile system, with other allies pledging additional systems and munitions.
As Ukraine braces for its third consecutive winter at war, the strain on the country is increasing. Russian attacks on critical infrastructure have led to rolling blackouts across Ukraine, as citizens grapple with the severe damage inflicted on the country’s energy grid.
According to the Bloomberg report, many of NATO’s pledges are unlikely to be fulfilled before autumn, just as Russia is expected to intensify its attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Uneven support from NATO allies has led to delays in the delivery of promised military equipment, leaving Ukraine’s defenses vulnerable.
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President Zelenskiy has urged the U.S. and European allies to lift restrictions on long-range weaponry, insisting that Ukraine’s recent incursion into Russia’s Kursk region shows that Kremlin threats of retaliation are “illusory.” He contends that deep strikes into Russia are necessary to target airfields and missile launchers that have been attacking Ukrainian cities.
However, the U.S., Germany, and Italy remain hesitant to authorize the use of their weapons on Russian soil, wary of escalating the conflict further. Despite these challenges, Ukraine has occupied Russian territory for the first time since World War II, prompting evacuations of tens of thousands of civilians and potentially diverting Russian military resources.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to press forward in eastern Ukraine, approaching the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, triggering warnings for civilian evacuations.
