The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Szmyhal called on Tuesday during the 30th meeting of the contact group for the Defense of Ukraine (Ramstein) to transfer 10 Patriot air defense systems and rockets to Samp/T systems, NASAMS, IRIS-T and HAWK. He emphasized that this weapon is urgently needed by Ukraine.
“We still need additional 10 Patriot systems and Patriot, Samp/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T and HAWK systems. It's urgent because Russia is planning further attacks on our energy and infrastructure system,” said Szmyhal.
The minister also emphasized the importance of continuing blows deep into Russia's territory to maintain pressure on Russian military production and military goals.
The head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense noted that “when we talk about peace negotiations, conditions and security guarantees, the Kremlin rejects all proposals for suspending weapons and continues escalation.”
He pointed out that last Saturday Russia again killed Ukrainian children and civilians during an attack on Ukraine. He also added that a few hours ago Russian leader Vladimir Putin hit the town of Jarowa in the Donetsk region, hitting directly into a group of pensioners who came to pick up their pensions.
He noted that on Monday Russia began “winter terror”, excluding the largest heat and power plant in the Kiev region with the help of 49 drones. “Our answer must be based on strength,” called the minister.
Earlier on Tuesday, the German defense minister Boris Pistorius during the meeting of the Ramstein Group in London informed that the Germans delivered the first Patriot launchers to Ukraine. He also stated that Germany would pass several thousand long -range drones to the Ukrainian army.
Pistorius announced the launch of a “new initiative of deep strokes”, which will cover “the supply of several thousand long -range drones” produced in cooperation with the Ukrainian arms industry. The value of signed contracts with arms companies is to be EUR 300 million.
30. Meeting of the contact group for the Defense of Ukraine as part of “Ramstein” in hybrid format began on Tuesday evening. The Minister of Defense of Great Britain John Healey together with the German colleague Boris Pistorius, NATO Secretary General Marek Rutte and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Szmyhalem were present in London. Other participants joined the online meeting.
From Kiev Iryna Hirnyk
