U.S. And NATO Allies Are Rushing Air Defense Systems To Ukraine

National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System. Image: Forsvarets Mediearkiv/Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace  

Reuters: Ukraine gets new air defenses, allies deepen resolve after Russian strikes 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Ukraine's allies announced delivery of new air defenses and recommitted to providing it robust, enduring military assistance at a meeting at NATO headquarters on Wednesday, saying Russian missile strikes two days ago only further united them. 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, sitting next to his Ukrainian counterpart, opened the gathering of more than 50 countries by condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin's deadly missile attacks against "targets with no military purpose" across Ukraine.

"The whole world has just seen yet again the malice and cruelty of Putin's war of choice, rooted in aggression and waged with deep contempt for the rules of war," Austin told the gathering, sitting next to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. 

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WNU Editor: What the past two days tell me is that on Monday a decision was made in Moscow to launch a massive attack on Ukraine that not only knocked out a good chunk out of Ukraine's power grid (about 30%), but it also downgraded/wiped out most of Ukraine's major air defense systems. Hence the rush from the West to send replacement air defense systems. 

This Russian attack could have been done last month, this summer, or at the beginning of the war. But they did not, making a decision to hold back until this Monday. The Kremlin is sending a message on what they are capable of doing, and on how far they are willing to go.

To say that I am getting more and more concerned on where this conflict is now heading is an understatement. It looks like the Kremlin has made the decision to escalate starting with changing their rules of engagement on what to strike, and I am sensing growing panic in the West and in Kyiv that there is nothing that Ukraine can do to stop it. 

And as for these air defense systems. It takes trained personnel to maintain and fire these systems, and months to train them. So who is going to handle these systems in Ukraine when the Ukrainian personnel are being trained to operate them? That is a question that no one is asking.

U.S. And NATO Allies Are Rushing Air Defense Systems To Ukraine  

The US and other NATO allies are rushing to get air defense systems to Ukraine after Russia let loose a barrage of missiles and explosive suicide drones -- Business Insider  

Ukraine Situation Report: U.S. To Rush Delivery Of NASAMS Air Defense Systems -- Warzone  

US Speeding Up Ukraine NASAMS Delivery Following Missile Attacks -- Defense Post  

Pentagon Speeds Up Shipping of Air Defense Systems for Ukraine After Biden's Promise -- Bloomberg  

U.S. expediting shipment of NASAMS air defenses to Ukraine -White House -- Reuters