Ukraine’s NATO envoy calls for more air defense donations
Aid to Kyiv is “not a donation but a swap,” said Ukraine’s NATO Ambassador Alyona Getmanchuk.
Kyiv's ambassador to NATO, Alyona Getmanchuk, has called on Western allies to provide Ukraine with more air defense systems amid growing concerns over Russia's escalating attacks. Getmanchuk emphasized that Ukraine's most urgent need is Patriot interceptors, but stockpiles have decreased significantly and production rates remain insufficient.
She stressed that assisting Ukraine in defending itself benefits NATO as well, as fewer missiles and drones would cross neighboring countries' borders. Getmanchuk highlighted that there are still stocks of interceptor missiles available for donation, particularly those nearing the end of their service lives. She proposed a mutually beneficial arrangement, where allies transfer interceptors from their existing stocks to Ukraine while Ukraine replaces them with missiles it has already ordered.
This swap would serve as a temporary solution to help Ukraine survive the winter. Ukraine is placing substantial orders for Patriot interceptors, including PAC-2s and PAC-3s, as well as European systems such as SAMP/T and Aster 30 missiles, IRIS-T, and others. The ambassador further urged countries to increase funding for NATO's PURL program, which currently supplies 90% of Ukraine's Patriot interceptors.
Getmanchuk argued that supporting Ukraine now would save allies money in the long run by reducing the need for reconstruction efforts post-war.
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