Britain has said it will donate air defense missiles capable of shooting down cruise missiles to Ukraine after Russian strikes in Kyiv and other cities in recent days. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced new support ahead of the NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Ukraine's allies have promised new air defenses and more assistance on the sidelines of Wednesday's meeting. The UK says the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, which will be provided in the coming weeks, could be used with the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or the NASAMS air defense system promised by the United States. Union.
Hundreds of additional air defense missiles of other types will also be donated, along with more aerial drones and another 18 howitzer artillery guns, he said. Wallace said: "Russia's latest indiscriminate attack on civilian areas in Ukraine requires further support for those who want to defend their country.
"So today I have authorized the supply of AMRAAM anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine."
Many countries condemned the Russian invasion, which Russian President Vladimir Putin called a "special military operation" to ensure Russia's security and protect Russian-speaking people in Ukraine. Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of waging war to seize territory.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that he expects Ukraine to do whatever it takes throughout the winter to regain its territory. "And we will do everything we can to ensure that they have what it takes to be effective," he told a news conference in Brussels.
The latest Russian airstrikes killed at least 26 people since Monday in a Russian missile strike in Ukraine, wounding more than 100 and crippling power supplies, adding new urgency to Kyiv's longstanding call for air defense to protect its cities.