Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal told reporters he met with NATO delegation headed by Whitaker. The delegation and Ukrainian officials focused on Ukraine’s requirements for the coming winter.
“The General Staff and the Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence [HUR] provided our partners with detailed information,” Shmyhal said in a Telegram post.
He added that the meeting was dominated by Ukraine’s need for a sophisticated, layered air defense system to counter Russia’s expanding air strike campaign.
“We stressed to our colleagues the importance of acquiring air-defense missiles, drone interceptors, and radars,” the minister said.
Shmyhal thanked partners for their support and for actively participating in the PURL initiative, which provides for joint financing of U.S. weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also met with Whitaker and NATO ambassadors from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Canada, and the Netherlands. According to a statement by the President’s Office, they discussed strengthening Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and imposing additional sanctions on Russia. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the delivery of Patriot air-defense systems and other equipment.
In turn, Whitaker confirmed his top priority was ensuring Ukraine receives the air-defense systems and missiles it needs before winter.
“I want to make sure everything is working, that the military gets everything it needs, and that Patriot systems and PAC-2 and PAC-3 [interceptor] missiles arrive as quickly as possible so you can defend critical infrastructure as winter approaches,” he said.
Whitaker visit is his first trip to Ukraine. In October, he told Bloomberg that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to enforce tougher oil sanctions on Moscow to pressure Russian dictator Vladimir Putin into negotiations to end the Russo–Ukrainian war.