Western partners rank Ukraine's air defense as a top priority.

On Wednesday, Western supporters of Ukraine debated the "top priority" of giving Kyiv new air defenses as Kyiv pushed for strengthened defenses against Russia's missile barrages.

When asked what he hoped would come out of a meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov responded with simply three words: "Air defense systems."

On Wednesday, a US-led group of close to 50 nations was holding discussions at NATO's headquarters in Brussels with an emphasis on air defenses after Russia launched a blitz throughout Ukraine in response to an explosion at a bridge leading to the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

After this week's strikes in response to the bridge explosion last Saturday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said negotiations would focus on "how to scale up support for Ukraine and the main priority would be greater air defense."

Civilians were killed and key civilian infrastructure was damaged in the horrifying and indiscriminate attacks against Ukrainian cities, according to Stoltenberg.

"This shows how urgently Ukraine needs more air defense. Air defense has been provided by allies, but we still require more. Different forms of air defense are required.

On Tuesday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, requested assistance from the G7 leaders in creating a "air shield" above his nation.

Western allies are frantically trying to figure out how to get Ukraine more sophisticated systems even though diplomats acknowledge they have very little extra.

Germany chose to ship the Iris-T medium-range system before even supplying it to its own forces, and as a result, the first one has now arrived in Ukraine.

A first shipment of two of the NASAMS anti-missile and anti-drone system from the United States is anticipated in the upcoming weeks, according to statements made by the country.

Six more units will need to be made before they can be delivered, and according to US officials, Washington is considering trying to ship Hawk systems from the Cold War to Ukraine in the interim.

Leading US General Mark Milley said ahead of the discussions on Wednesday, "We'll look at artillery fires and the Ukrainians' demands for air and missile defense."

We'll collaborate with the approximately 50 nations participating to improve Ukraine's defense capabilities, particularly against Russian air and missile threats.

The war in Ukraine has depleted their stockpiles, and NATO defense ministers, who will meet on Thursday, are pushing for methods to increase their overall arsenals.

In order to combat Russia's more than seven-month invasion of Ukraine, NATO members have sent hardware worth billions of dollars, and they have committed to continue doing so as Kiev works to liberate occupied areas.

"By cutting back on NATO stockpiles, ammunition, or weaponry, allies have supported Ukraine. Although this was the proper course of action, Stoltenberg noted that we still need to figure out how to replenish those reserves.

"I anticipate the ministers will agree to examine our stock guidelines and to work more closely with industry."

The summit in Brussels, according to the head of NATO, is taking place at a "pivotal time," as Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to war defeats by annexing captured land and making subliminal nuclear threats.

The nuclear posture of Moscow has not changed, according to Western countries, suggesting that it is not preparing to launch an attack. They have forewarned Moscow against using any kind of small nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

We are aware of the rumors regarding the use of low-yield nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and we have made it plain to Russia that doing so will have serious repercussions for them, according to Stoltenberg.