Kyiv convenes extraordinary Ukraine-NATO Council over air defence needs

Official Kyiv initiated an extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council in Brussels and handed allies a list of urgent needs in air and missile defence systems. Ukraine calls on partners to accelerate deliveries ahead of the Ramstein format meeting to be held on 8 September.

This was reported by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The extraordinary meeting took place at NATO headquarters at the level of permanent representatives on the initiative of the Ukrainian side. Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte chaired it.

Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister for European Integration Serhiy Boiev and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Brigadier General Serhiy Sobko presented to allies an assessment of current air threats and a list of Ukraine's most urgent needs in air and missile defence systems.

According to Boiev, it is now critically important for Ukraine not only how much weaponry partners can provide, but also the speed of its delivery.

"Timeliness is now more important than volume", - the deputy minister stressed, adding that drones and air defence systems will largely determine the course of the coming winter.

Kyiv asks to move to "operationally necessary"

Following the meeting, the Ukrainian side called on allies to move from decisions that are merely politically possible to what is operationally necessary for the defence of the country.

First of all, this concerns the rapid provision of additional air and missile defence systems and means to intercept Russian missiles and drones.

In recent months, air defence has remained one of the main areas of military support for Ukraine. At the beginning of September, NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska also called on allies to increase contributions to the PURL programme and seek opportunities to transfer additional air defence assets from their stocks to Ukraine.

Ukraine reminds about €70 billion in assistance

Separately, Kyiv called on partners to mobilise by the end of 2026 the resources necessary to fulfil NATO's declared level of military support to Ukraine of at least €70 billion.

Earlier, Mark Rutte reported that allies had agreed to provide at least €70 billion in support to Ukraine this year, and the same level next year.

The Ukrainian side also stressed that strengthening Ukraine's air defence directly contributes to the security of the Alliance itself, as it reduces Russia's military potential and the risk of threats spreading to NATO countries' territories.

Air defence to be one of main topics of Ramstein

Ukraine's needs in air and missile defence will be discussed already on 8 September during the next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), known as the Ramstein format.

The group includes more than 50 countries, including all NATO members, Alliance partners, and the European Union. The Ramstein format itself is not a NATO body, but the Alliance participates in coordinating assistance to Ukraine, and group meetings have repeatedly been held at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Thus, the extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council became a direct preparation for the talks on 8 September, at which Kyiv expects to obtain concrete decisions on additional air and missile defence means.

Based on materials from: Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, NATO