NATO Secretary General Discusses Improving Ukraine's Air Defense with President Zelensky

JAKARTA - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday he had spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about accelerating the delivery of additional air defense systems, following a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine.

The discussion took place amid Moscow's stepped-up long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure, prompting NATO allies to beef up Ukraine's defense capabilities.

"I have spoken with (President) Zelensky about the terrible and latest Russian missile and drone attacks on cities in Ukraine," Rutte said in a statement on social media X, quoted by Daily Sabah (6/8).

"I am discussing with allies how we can continue to provide Ukraine with the air defense systems it desperately needs," he added.

Meanwhile, President Zelensky also said he had discussed these efforts with Secretary-General Rutte.

"Mark understands the threat very well, and we have coordinated our efforts with countries that have missiles and the necessary capabilities to provide assistance," President Zelensky wrote on X.

"It is very important to eliminate all bureaucratic obstacles and make the necessary political decisions," he said.

After speaking with the Ukrainian leader, Secretary-General Rutte said in a post on X that he was "discussing with allies how we can continue to provide the air defense systems that Ukraine desperately needs."

Russia launched 28 missiles - including 24 ballistic missiles - and 115 armed drones towards Ukraine in the latest night attack, according to a written statement from the Ukrainian Air Forces Command.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces launched an intensive overnight attack targeting transport, logistics and distribution centers in the Kyiv region and surrounding areas.

Ukrainian air defenses failed to intercept any of 24 ballistic missiles and four Zircon cruise missiles during Wednesday's attack, according to the air force, Al Arabiya reported from Reuters.

President Zelensky said allies were only supplying a third of the number of air defense missiles to Ukraine in 2026 compared to 2025, amid an escalation of Russia's attacks on the capital Kyiv and a port hub in its south.

Ukraine has been short of US-made Patriot interceptor missiles - which are capable of taking down Russian ballistic missiles - since the start of the war.

However, in recent weeks, this severe shortage has come under sharp scrutiny as Russia's onslaught on Kyiv has occurred on average every three days throughout July alone.