Espreso. Global
Exclusive

Ukraine should join Sky Shield initiative - aviation expert

21 August, 2024 Wednesday
21:20

Aviation expert Anatolii Khrapchynskyi believes that Ukraine should join the European Sky Shield initiative

client/title.list_title

He expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"We keep saying that we need about 25 Patriot systems, we definitely need at least 3 THAAD systems, which are anti-missile systems, or Israeli Arrow systems. By the way, speaking of air defense systems, it should be noted that at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, some European countries joined the initiative Europe's Sky Shield, which is about 41 countries, and not only European countries, but also Turkey, to create a unified air defense system to protect against Russian aggression. And this initiative includes such systems as Patriot, Israeli Arrow and others, which creates a certain message for our diplomats that we need to join this system in order to realize what Mr. President said about the possibility of intercepting missiles by our Western partners," he said.

The aviation expert believes that Ukraine's possible accession to this initiative could be a “powerful step.”

"I think that if Ukraine joins this initiative, it will be a powerful step. Because, firstly, we will be able to get more weapons, and secondly, we will be able to share our experience with our Western partners, because no officer, even from a NATO country, has ever shot down the Kh-101 missile or Kinzhal missile, or intercepted an Iskander, and we have this experience and can share it. But let's then exchange on an equal footing, that is, we are saying that we are creating a unified air defense system with Europe, and this will not be joining NATO, it will not be joining the European Union, it will be a separate new legal structure, which I think will psychologically confuse Putin by its appearance," Khrapchynskyi said.

  • On May 29, neutral Austria signed a memorandum under the European Missile and Air Defense Program (abbreviated as Sky Shield), completing its official accession to the initiative.
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Wednesday
5 February
19:30
Explosion near Kamianets-Podilskyi recruitment center kills one, injures four
19:10
Exclusive
Killing of recruitment officer is consequence of Russia's special operations in Ukraine
18:45
Ukraine proposes storing American gas in its facilities
18:20
OPINION
Flaw in "everything was fine if not that damned Putin" narrative
17:55
Russian conscripts sent to Ukraine frontline despite Kremlin’s promises
17:30
Ukraine-U.S. cooperation goes beyond natural resources for mutual benefit — FM Sybiha
17:12
Italy's Bologna hosts protest against Russian disinformation, propaganda
16:50
Ukraine frees 150 defenders from Russian captivity
16:29
OPINION
Trump and Ukraine's rare earth metals
16:07
Exclusive
Ukraine lacks rare earth elements, Trump refers to other minerals — expert
15:50
Company news
How Oschadbank's mobile branch works: the case of Sumy region
15:48
Russia open to talks with Zelenskyy despite not recognizing his legitimacy — Peskov
15:31
Russia’s 'new' Krona-E air defense system: old tech in fresh package
15:10
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, January 29 – February 5
January 29–February 5 live war map: Ukrainian troops stabilize frontline, battle for every meter near Pokrovsk
15:00
OPINION
Ukraine needs elections, but war makes them impossible
14:43
21 Russian servicemen surrender to Ukrainian forces in Kursk region
14:26
UK Foreign Secretary Lammy visits Kyiv, announces $68M aid package for Ukraine
14:08
Exclusive
Ukraine's Khmelnytskyi risks halting energy security project without USAID funding — deputy mayor
13:50
OPINION
Does Trump have plan?
13:29
IAEA halts mission rotation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant over Russian security risks
13:12
Putin only wants Ukraine’s next president to be anti-West — Zelenskyy
13:00
Updated
Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukraine’s Izyum kills 5, injures 59
12:56
Ukraine's Defense Ministry deploys robotic units in military brigades
12:48
Updated
Ukrainian forces target oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region, fire breaks out
12:37
Exclusive
Ukraine targets 30 Russian facilities in January — military expert Zgurets
12:15
OPINION
Exchanging Ukraine’s rare earth metals for U.S. military aid is solid deal. Column by Vitaly Portnikov
11:54
Russian conscription fails to offset battlefield losses — ISW
11:32
Review
Ukraine’s military reform: key goals, objectives. Serhiy Zgurets’ column
11:09
Ukrainian forces repel 35 Russian attacks near Pokrovsk, 12 in Kursk region on Feb. 4
10:31
Exclusive
Russia likely increases Shahed drone warhead to 90kg — Kharkiv official
10:13
Over 45,000 Ukrainian soldiers killed in war with Russia — Zelenskyy
09:55
Russia loses 1,140 soldiers, 52 artillery systems, 9 tanks in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Tuesday
4 February
21:45
Gimli robotic complex joins Ukraine's army, aiding in evacuation and resupply
21:30
Exclusive
When could Ukraine hold elections after the war? Lawyer explains
21:12
Ryanair plans to resume flights to Lviv, Kyiv 4-6 weeks after war ends
20:57
Black Sea tankers wreck: IMO holds Russia responsible
20:40
"Don't let them drain resources": military commander reacts to Trump
20:23
Polish Military Institute of Armament Technology, Ukrainian NAUDI agree to cooperate
20:07
Exclusive
USAID funding freeze: Expert Riabtsev on potential risks for Ukraine’s energy sector
19:51
Exclusive
Trump's proposal to get rare metals from Ukraine is political move – analyst
More news