Amsterdam/Kiev, 8 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The Netherlands will provide Ukraine with a Patriot air defence system to boost the country's ability to protect itself against ongoing Russian airstrikes, two ministers confirmed during a visit to Kiev, according to Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmanns confirmed their commitment to deliver the system to Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday, UNIAN reported.

The delivery was announced in June by the previous Dutch government, without setting a specific delivery date.

Ukraine is currently believed to have five Patriot systems. Romania has said it might provide an additional one.

Kiev is hoping for further commitments at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, including on up to six Patriot systems from Israel.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has stressed the need for at least seven reliable anti-aircraft systems to protect major cities such as Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya and Odessa, which are frequently targeted by missile attacks.

Russia has been waging a large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine for over two years, consistently launching airstrikes on the neighbouring country. The missile and drone attacks are causing severe destruction, particularly to energy infrastructure, and resulting in repeated fatalities and injuries.

MIA file photo