Zelenskyy discusses stronger air defences and Starshield restrictions with Rutte
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Dublin on the sidelines of the European Political Community meeting. They discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defences and disruptions to the Starshield satellite communications system.
The head of state reported this on social media, according to Censor.NET.
Starshield disruptions
Zelenskyy thanked Rutte for his consistent support in protecting Ukraine’s skies.
"The situation is very difficult now because of the large number of Russian missiles and drones. In the first week of this month alone, Russia launched 115 missiles of various types, thousands of guided aerial bombs and jet-powered ‘Shaheds’," Zelenskyy said.
According to the head of state, alongside the persistent shortage of ballistic missile defences, which Russia exploits to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, disruptions to Starshield along the front line and over Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories are creating significant additional difficulties.
"This significantly limits our ability to intercept jet-powered ‘Shaheds’. Of course, only the Russians benefit from this," Zelenskyy said.
Need for PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles
The president stressed that, as trilateral talks intensify, it is important that Ukraine’s air defence systems are not left with empty launchers and that Ukraine can defend itself.
"Artificial restrictions do not serve peace – they serve the aggressor. Thank you, Mark, for your willingness to help with PAC-2 and PAC-3," Zelenskyy added.
