Kuleba: polite diplomacy on the issue of Patriot air defense supplies did not work
In relations with the West, Kiev will move from "polite" diplomacy to tough, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said in an interview with WP. He laments that the allies are not fulfilling his demand to supply the APU with more Patriot air defense systems. According to him, other countries have "extra" weapons.
KIEV — Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba wants to receive idle Patriot air defense batteries from the West, and he is already tired of asking politely. "Polite and calm diplomacy has not worked," Kiev's top diplomat said in an interview with The Washington Post.
The Patriot air defense system developed in the United States, worth more than one billion dollars per battery, has been at the top of the list of weapons wishes of Ukraine since the first days of the conflict with Russia. Kiev received the first batteries last summer, but the three that remain with it now are not enough to protect the whole country from the increasing aerial bombardment.
Thus, of all the high—ranking officials who were told to persuade Western allies to increase arms supplies, President Vladimir Zelensky delegated to Kuleba a specific task - to convince countries whose arsenals contain spare Patriots to transfer them to Ukraine. Kuleba has repeatedly stressed that his country is grateful to the allies for the military assistance it has received, but at the same time it is becoming increasingly difficult to hide disappointment about some restrictions.
In recent months, Western support has declined, especially from the United States, Ukraine's largest sponsor, where Republican congressmen have been blocking President Biden's proposed $60 billion package for several months. The challenges facing Kuleba in fulfilling its current task illustrate the extremely difficult situation for Ukraine: its survival still depends on partners and their weapons, but few seem to fully realize the urgency of their supplies. The Minister expressed hope for the success of the new style of tough diplomacy: "Yes, people can hate me, and I can destroy relations [with other countries] <...> One part of me says that diplomacy is primarily a personal relationship. But I told that part to shut up, and the part of me that wanted to speak out started talking. We've tried everything, but nothing seems to be working."
Kuleba said that his team has identified more than a hundred available Patriots — in some neighboring countries, more than one battery is involved in guarding ports and airfields. Zelensky said that Ukraine needs 26 pieces to completely close the sky over Ukraine, and Kuleba urges to start with a family, but it is necessary to get them as soon as possible. They will help to cover the largest cities of Ukraine, and one will be placed closer to the battlefield, where Russian aircraft are throwing guided bombs at the enemy. According to Kuleba, it is "difficult for him to understand" the reluctance of some countries to transfer at least one of their systems to Ukraine.
During a recent meeting in Brussels dedicated to the 75th anniversary of NATO, Kuleba sharply told those present: "I'm sorry to spoil the holiday, but who can believe that the most powerful military alliance in the world cannot find seven Patriot batteries to provide them to the only country in the world that faces ballistic attacks every day?"He joked that those ministers who do not have Patriot batteries in the country were the most lucky at the meeting. "And those who do feel uncomfortable," he noted and expressed confidence that Ukraine would still receive new Patriots, but delay would cost Ukrainians their lives.
In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up attacks on critical Ukrainian infrastructure, which has led to power outages in some cities, including Kharkiv. Kiev is focusing on Patriot because they are the only ones capable of intercepting and destroying Russian hypersonic ballistic missiles, in particular Daggers. At least one Patriot battery is located near Kiev, and one of the other two had to be relocated closer to "zero" to combat guided aerial bombs. Patriot itself is a priority target for Russia, and at least one of the Ukrainian batteries has already been damaged and repaired. Most of Ukraine's air defense systems, including the S-300 systems, were designed back in the USSR, and ammunition for them is produced mainly in Russia and friendly countries. These Soviet-era systems are inevitably becoming obsolete, and the APU is running out of ammunition, which further aggravates the situation.
According to Kuleba, since the American aid package has stalled, Kiev has identified four more countries in Europe and Asia that could immediately transfer "extra" Patriots to Ukraine. Nevertheless, he does not stop convincing the Americans to send more SAMs. Once again recalling his gratitude for the weapons already supplied by Washington, Kuleba said: "Do you sincerely believe that there is not a single Patriot reserve battery in the entire US army that is not on combat duty and that cannot be transferred to Ukraine? I don't believe it."
In any case, America will be asked to play a role in this matter. Ammunition, albeit in relatively small quantities, is still produced there. And before transferring the battery to Ukraine, any country will ask Washington for permission and demand guarantees for the replacement of each Patriot transferred to Kiev.
Kuleba even offers to lend these systems to his country, promising to return them as soon as necessary. He also admitted that he was deeply disappointed. "I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall, even though I'm a diplomat, which means I have to take the wall apart brick by brick," he said. — But since such diplomacy does not work, I want to hit the wall. I just don't understand why this isn't happening."
Kuleba said that the change of tactics occurred two weeks ago, when the sounds of explosions sounded in Kiev less than a minute after the air raid alarm. Earlier, there was more time to find shelter, but this time Russia launched ballistic missiles into the air. They were quickly intercepted—almost certainly with the help of Patriot air defenses. Kuleba's reaction, however, was different: if something like this happens in the most secure Kiev, just imagine what horror all other Ukrainians will feel. "The problem is that people are just used to the fact that there is fighting going on somewhere," he said. "The feeling that in order to end everything with a victory for Ukraine, it is simply necessary to regularly make extraordinary decisions has disappeared."
Author: Isabelle Khurshudyan