UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has urged allies to increase shipments of air-defence missiles to Ukraine ahead of a winter he says Russia will try to use as a "weapon." After a visit to Kyiv, Streeting stressed the need to convert allied goodwill into concrete capability, highlighting critical shortages of interceptor missiles including the US-made Patriot. The plea follows deadly missile strikes on 5 August that killed 17 people and renewed calls from President Zelensky for faster deliveries. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group is set to discuss air-defence supplies in September.
Wes Streeting Urges Allies to Boost Air-Defence Missiles as Ukraine Faces a 'Weaponized' Winter
FILE PHOTO - UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting (R) and Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Serhiy Boyve lay flowers at the Wall of Remembrance at St Michael's Square. (is associated with: «British defence secretary urges more air defence missiles for Ukraine») Jane Barlow/PA Wire/dpa
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has renewed an urgent appeal for allied countries to step up shipments of air-defence missiles to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares for a winter he warned Russia will try to use as a "weapon" against civilians and critical infrastructure.
Streeting made the remarks after visiting Ukraine last week to assess preparations for the colder months. In past winters, Moscow has repeatedly targeted the country’s energy network in an effort to undermine civilian resilience and morale.
"Winter in Ukraine is no longer a season. It is a weapon," Streeting wrote in The Sunday Times, adding that while Russia appears to be losing the war in its fifth year, Ukrainians know how quickly winter conditions can change the strategic picture.
Returning from Kyiv, Streeting said he had "a clear understanding of what Ukraine needs to weather this winter." He pledged: "Where the UK can provide that resource, we will. And where we cannot, it is my job to mobilise allies to find that capability." He also noted that, together with German counterpart Boris Pistorius, he co-chairs the Ukraine Defence Contact Group with the goal of converting the goodwill of roughly 50 nations into concrete capabilities.
Air Defence Shortages and the Urgency
Streeting said that the coalition effort "must include greater resources for air defence." His trip coincided with fresh warnings that Ukraine is running low on critical interceptor missiles, notably the US-made Patriot system — one of the few NATO systems able to counter ballistic missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly appealed for more interceptor missiles as sustained Russian bombardment has depleted Ukraine’s stocks. Streeting travelled to Kyiv on 5 August, the day one of the deadliest nights of strikes killed 17 people and wounded at least 44 in Kyiv and surrounding areas. After those attacks, Zelensky said: "Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those killed today," and warned that delays or reluctance to supply anti-ballistic systems "lead directly to such horrific casualties and destruction."
Analysts and officials say shipments of interceptor missiles to Ukraine have dropped sharply this year after global stockpiles were redirected to the Middle East following the escalation of US operations in the region in late February.
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which coordinates allied support, is expected to meet in September, with air-defence supplies likely to top the agenda as partners consider how best to shore up Ukraine’s defences before winter.
Why It Matters: Without adequate interceptors and integrated air-defence systems, civilian populations and essential infrastructure remain vulnerable to missile strikes — a risk that is heightened when extreme winter conditions can exacerbate damage and complicate emergency response.
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