Ukraine’s Air Defense Running on Empty? EU Demands Urgent Action

Europe’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, issued a stark warning on Wednesday: Ukraine is critically short of the very missiles needed to stop Russian airstrikes. Speaking to reporters, Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said the core problem is air defense. “They are lacking interceptors,” she stated, referring to the guided missiles that shoot down incoming rockets and drones. Kallas urged EU member states to dig into their own stockpiles and hand over air defense interceptors that are set to expire. These weapons have a limited shelf life, and unused ones are typically destroyed. Giving them to Kyiv, she argued, would save lives and strengthen Ukraine’s defenses without costing governments extra money. Her appeal comes as Ukraine faces intensifying aerial bombardment, forcing its military to ration its most effective defensive weapons. The shortage leaves critical infrastructure and civilian areas increasingly vulnerable. The call is a direct push for faster, more concrete action from European capitals, which have been slow to release additional military aid. Kallas’s message is simple: the hardware is available—it just needs to be sent now, before it expires.