President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Dublin, where they discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defense, the shortage of interceptor missiles, and problems with Starshield satellite communications.
The head of state reported this on Thursday, November 12, following talks on the sidelines of the IX Summit of the European Political Community.
According to Zelensky, Rutte expressed readiness to assist in providing Ukraine with PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
The President thanked the NATO Secretary General for his constant support in protecting Ukrainian skies and emphasized that the situation remains extremely difficult due to the intensity of Russian air attacks.
According to the data he provided, in the first week of November alone, Russia fired 115 missiles of various types at Ukraine, and also used thousands of guided aerial bombs and jet-powered drones of the "Shahed" type.
Zelensky named the constant shortage of anti-missile means, which Russia exploits to strike Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as one of the main problems.
Additional difficulties, according to the President, are caused by disruptions in the operation of the American Starshield satellite system along the front line and in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
These restrictions significantly complicate the use of Ukrainian interceptor drones against Russian jet-powered drones.
"Of course, only the Russians benefit from this," — emphasized Zelensky.
The President also linked the need to strengthen air defense with the resumption of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, the USA, and Russia.
"Now that trilateral negotiations have intensified, it is important that Ukraine does not have empty air defense launchers and has the ability to defend itself. Artificial restrictions do not work for peace — they work for the aggressor," — he stated.
Zelensky thanked Rutte for his readiness to help with PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. However, the specific volumes of possible deliveries and the timing of ammunition transfer were not announced following the meeting.
