The Ukrainian ambassador to Germany has appealed to NATO to help defend airspace over western regions of Ukraine.
Oleksiy Makeev warned that every kilometer Russia advances brings them a kilometer closer to the EU. Writing in the German weekly Die Zeit, the ambassador urged Western countries to help intercept incoming missiles and drones.
“Protecting the airspace over western Ukraine from outside the country’s borders is technically possible and legally permissible,” he wrote.
Citing Israel as a precedent, Makeev recalled how several countries successfully repelled an Iranian air attack in April. “The UN Charter says that an attacked country can defend itself, and third countries can help the attacked country without becoming a target themselves,” he added.
The idea, he said, was not new. “It was one of the most important discussions in the first weeks after the Russian invasion,” he said. “At the time, it was considered impossible but over time it’s become clear that the unrealizable is turning into the realizable.”
Continuing, he said that some German politicians had already voiced support for such a move. “The idea of defending Ukrainian airspace from neighboring countries is already being discussed at many levels,” he said. “There is also a cross-party group of brave and far-sighted politicians in the Bundestag that support this.”
“Protecting the airspace over western Ukraine from outside the country’s borders is technically possible and legally permissible,” he wrote.
Citing Israel as a precedent, Makeev recalled how several countries successfully repelled an Iranian air attack in April. “The UN Charter says that an attacked country can defend itself, and third countries can help the attacked country without becoming a target themselves,” he added.
The idea, he said, was not new. “It was one of the most important discussions in the first weeks after the Russian invasion,” he said. “At the time, it was considered impossible but over time it’s become clear that the unrealizable is turning into the realizable.”
Continuing, he said that some German politicians had already voiced support for such a move. “The idea of defending Ukrainian airspace from neighboring countries is already being discussed at many levels,” he said. “There is also a cross-party group of brave and far-sighted politicians in the Bundestag that support this.”
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