Free Republic

Ukraine has received its first delivery of NASAMS air defence systems which will "significantly strengthen" its armed forces, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Monday. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said last month the United States was accelerating the shipment of the sophisticated NASAMS systems to Ukraine after a devastating missile barrage from Russia. "Look who’s here! NASAMS and Aspide air defence systems arrived in Ukraine!," Reznikov wrote on the Telegram messaging app, thanking Norway, Spain and the United States for the shipments. "These weapons will significantly strengthen the #UAarmy and will make our skies safer."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that NATO countries should launch preventive strikes against Russia to prevent Moscow from using nuclear weapons. “What should NATO do? Eliminate the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons ... Preemptive strikes, so that they know what will happen to them if they use it. And not vice versa - wait for Russian nuclear strikes, ”he said, speaking via video link at the Lowy Institute (Australia). The Kremlin has repeatedly noted that Russia can use nuclear weapons only in accordance with the provisions of its nuclear doctrine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the...