Ukraine seeks to create a coalition with NATO countries to shoot down Russian missiles: Zelenskyi

Ukraine intends to agree with NATO on the creation of a coalition of neighboring countries to shoot down Russian missiles in its airspace. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this during a conversation with journalists.

“We must develop the technical capabilities to use the aviation of neighboring countries against Russian missiles aimed at Ukraine. Although these missiles hit our territory, they also pose a threat to our neighboring partners, in particular the countries of the Alliance.”, – noted Zelensky.

The president admitted that such a decision would be difficult for the partners due to fears of an escalation of the conflict. “They are always afraid of a possible escalation. We are fighting it and will work on it,” he said.

Zelensky also proposed holding a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council to discuss this issue.

“I have tasked our diplomats to work with NATO to organize such a meeting and determine the date when we can discuss this initiative. Today, we really lack such a coalition.”, – emphasized the president.

The President also believes that undertaking to help Ukraine shoot down missiles is a big responsibility for one of the neighboring countries.

“I believe that this should definitely have been done a long time ago. But now we should try to use this tool and discuss with NATO countries the possibility of creating a small coalition of neighboring countries to shoot down enemy missiles.”, – he emphasized.

As you know, Ukraine and Poland are striving to develop a mechanism to jointly shoot down Russian missiles and drones over the territory of Ukraine. Poland has already announced its intention to discuss this issue with NATO member countries. At the same time, the spokesman of the White House for national security issues, John Kirby, emphasized that the escalation of the conflict would not be useful for either Ukraine or Poland.