RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany—The U.S. and its allies must step up their contributions to Ukraine’s air defense from Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sept. 6, addressing a meeting of the regular Ukraine Defense Contact Group held here for the first time.
“The world has enough air defense systems to ensure that Russian terror does not have results, and I urge you to be more active in this war with us for the air defense,” Zelenskyy said in pointed remarks to some 50 nations’ representatives who packed a ballroom at the base officers’ club. “We have already started operating F-16s. Thank you for this support, Secretary! And to you, partners! They strike down missiles and drones, they are very efficient. But they are few. You know that. We need a much stronger fleet of F-16s, and I have proposals that I will say when the press leaves.”
The U.S. and its allies have vowed to bolster Ukraine’s air force and air defense capabilities, as Ukraine and Russia wage a war of attrition with missiles, drones, and air defense interceptors, said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who was seated next to Zelenskyy and spoke immediately following the Ukrainian president’s remarks.
“Over and over, Ukraine has stood up to Putin’s aggression and atrocities and this coalition has Ukraine’s back,” Austin said before the hourslong meetings among the countries’ officials.
Russia has lost 97 combat aircraft since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he said. But it has adapted, foregoing early war tactics such as flying into the teeth of Ukrainian air defense and instead launching standoff missiles, glide bombs, and using one-way attack drones to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and forces. It has also employed attack helicopters.
Zelenskyy wants the U.S. and its allies to remove restrictions barring it from using Western-provided long-range weapons to strike targets in Russia. The U.S. has not allowed Ukraine to use American-provided ATACMS surface-to-surface missiles to attack targets in Russia for fear of escalating tensions.
Ukraine has attacked targets in Russia with indigenous drones, though those weapons hardly pack the punch or capability of long-range missiles.
“Putin has already shed so much blood that against the backdrop of this blood, Russia’s attempts to draw ‘red lines’ simply do not work,” Zelenskyy said. “Instead we need to keep our morale high for our joint values to rule the world and not the ‘red lines’ soaked in blood.”
In a speech mixed with consternation and praise, Zelenskyy said the West needed to not just provide Ukraine with more advanced capabilities, but deliver on what it has already promised, including more ground-based air defense systems.
“I will not speak openly now about the number of systems we have received, thank you so much again, but the number of air defense systems that have not yet been delivered is significant,” Zelenskyy said. “This is what was agreed upon, and this is what has not been fully implemented.”
After the meeting concluded, the Pentagon announced a $250 million aid package for Ukraine which included air defense missiles.
Austin indicated the U.S. understood Ukraine’s frustration, but it is unclear what additional steps the U.S. and its allies will take.
“On behalf of everyone here, we hear your urgency,” Austin said.
But for now the U.S. is not changing its policy on long range strikes inside Russia with American weapons, Austin told reporters after the meeting concluded.
“Ukraine has a pretty significant capability of its own to address targets that are well beyond the range of ATACMS,” and air launched cruise missiles, said Austin, citing Ukrainian drones as one example. “I don’t believe one specific capability will be decisive.”