Ukraine Plans to Strengthen Air Defense Capabilities

Reference News Network, February 8 According to the Russian newspaper "Independent" website on February 2, although the intensity of long-range drone and missile attacks between Russia and Ukraine has recently decreased, it has not affected the situation on the front lines. Ukrainian President Zelensky assigned new air defense combat tasks to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The NATO agency responsible for cooperation with Ukraine has promised to provide the country with more air defense systems and offensive weapons.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov met with NATO's senior representative in Ukraine, Patrick Turner, and the head of NATO's Ukraine Security and Training Special Representative Group, U.S. Army Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard.

According to media reports, they reached an agreement on key cooperation priorities to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities, including the use of the "Patriot" air defense system, F-16 fighter jets, and the "HIMARS" High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

To expedite the decision-making process and shorten the time for providing assistance to Ukraine, both sides also discussed the coordination of the work of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein Group).

It is noteworthy that all these actions are coordinated according to Ukraine's priority needs list. NATO is procuring various weapons for Kyiv through this plan, with the weapons primarily sourced from the United States.

The Americans also seem to have no objections to spending money to provide military support to Ukraine. The Pentagon recently announced that the U.S. military has signed a contract with Belgium's Sabena Engineering Company for mid-term maintenance and overhaul of Ukrainian F-16 fighter jets, as well as managing logistical technical support. The contract is valued at over $235 million, and the related obligations will be fulfilled by January 28, 2029. This indicates that NATO countries may not provide Kyiv with second-hand F-16 fighter jets as some media previously claimed.

Russian military expert and retired Major General Yuri Netkachev said in an interview with the "Independent" that "NATO has committed to providing Ukraine with additional 'HIMARS' ammunition. The new ammunition deliveries will escalate the conflict further."

Netkachev pointed out that in response to Fedorov's appeal, American billionaire Musk decided to urgently set a speed limit of 90 kilometers per hour for "Starlink" terminals within Ukraine, with terminals exceeding this speed limit being disabled.

Netkachev stated, "This restriction is not particularly severe for Russian professionals, as reconnaissance drones and maritime unmanned vessels equipped with 'Starlink' terminals can still operate at low speeds."

It remains unclear what specific measures NATO will take to enhance the protection of Ukrainian airspace. The U.S. has committed to providing a certain number of "Patriot" missiles, which can be used to intercept ballistic missile targets. Germany, the UK, and Norway are also expected to provide air defense systems and ammunition to the Ukrainian military. However, Zelensky recently stated that the weapons provided by European countries are clearly still insufficient for the country to achieve effective air defense.

Zelensky also declared that Ukraine will take measures to strengthen its air defense. He stated that a key task for the new defense minister is to "close the sky." Not long ago, an important meeting regarding the development of small air defense systems was held in Kyiv. The meeting discussed the structure of a new command department responsible for this air defense direction and "new command strategies," as well as tasks related to strengthening anti-drone efforts in cities like Kherson, Nikopol, and border areas in Sumy Oblast. Another task is to enhance the Ukrainian military's response to long-range attack drones in the country's interior. Zelensky pointed out, "There will be more borders, more defense lines. The third task is to promote the successful experiences of effective units within the Ukrainian defense forces so that effective solutions for one unit can be successfully adopted by other units."

Netkachev believes, "Russia has intensified its strikes on key enemy targets in the new year, and the West is unable to provide enough air defense equipment to ensure Ukraine's effective air defense."

U.S. Fox News reported, "Ukraine is eager to strengthen air defense in cities near the front lines before the end of Russia's week-long ceasefire (the 'energy ceasefire') in Kyiv. Experts warn that this will only strengthen Moscow's negotiating position and will not be of much help to Kyiv." The report indicates that Ukraine is about to face a difficult period. (Translated by Liu Yang)