NATO countries agree to urgently modernize Ukraine air defense systems

A number of NATO member countries signed a joint statement stressing the urgent need to modernize Ukraine’s air defense systems.

“Today, our friends, parliamentarians of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, Great Britain, the United States signed a joint statement on the need to modernize the air defense of Ukraine,” said the Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

“Representatives of these countries demand decisive actions to establish peace in Ukraine,” Stefanchuk said.

He added that the countries vowed to support the military and civil defense of Ukraine, ensure the protection of airspace, and stop the movement of enemy weapons in Ukraine’s territory. “This can be done by supplying anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons to Ukraine,” he stated.

The Netherlands and Germany will supply Slovakia with American Patriot air-defense systems to replace its S-300, which will be further transferred to Ukraine.

These countries will also provide humanitarian aid, ensure food supplies and medicine to Ukrainian cities that are shelled and bombarded, rescue the wounded and refugees, and protect Ukrainian nuclear facilities.

“It is important that Russia recognizes its responsibility for compliance with the Geneva Conventions,” the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada added.