At the 30th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Rammstein format), Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal called on partners to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems and missiles for Patriot, SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and Hawk.
“We still need an additional 10 Patriot systems and missiles for Patriot, SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, and Hawk. This is urgent, as Russia is planning further strikes on our energy system and infrastructure,” Shmyhal said during the Rammstein-format meeting on Tuesday.
The minister also emphasized the importance of continuing long-range strikes to maintain pressure on Russian military production and military targets.
Shmyhal stressed that “while we discuss peace negotiations, conditions, and security guarantees, the Kremlin rejects any ceasefire proposals and continues its escalation.”
He specifically noted that last Saturday, Russia again killed Ukrainian children and civilians during attacks on Ukraine. Furthermore, as Shmyhal said,
“three hours ago, Putin struck the village of Yarova in Donetsk region, directly hitting a group of pensioners who had come to collect their pensions.”
He also noted that on Monday, Russia began a winter terror campaign, taking the largest thermal power plant in Kyiv region offline with 49 drones.
“Our response must be based on strength,” the minister urged.
The 30th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Rammstein) began in a hybrid format on Tuesday evening. Present in London were UK Defense Secretary John Healey, his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal. Other participants joined the meeting online.
