Nato-led allies are preparing to send advanced air defense weapons to Kyiv after Volodymyr Zelensky called on wealthy western nations to help Ukraine create an “air shield” against incoming Russian aerial attacks.

At the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defense taking place in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday, the U.K., Canada, France, and the Netherlands all promised to send new weaponry to Ukraine, on top of the air military systems already promised by the U.S. and Germany.

The move to send more artillery comes a day after three-quarters of the 193-member U.N. General Assembly called Moscow's annexation of Ukrainian territory "illegal" with only four countries (Syria, Nicaragua, North Korea, and Belarus) joining Russia to vote against the resolution.

Kyiv celebrated the summit calling it “historic” and welcomed the new weaponry, which will be used to fight back Russian missiles raining down on more than 40 Ukrainian cities and towns.

Zelensky previously said at the International Monetary Fund and World Bank annual meetings in Washington: "The more assistance Ukraine gets now, the sooner we'll come to an end to the Russian war."

https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1580295103088066560

Russia has always held a staunch position against the West providing weaponry to Ukraine, accusing them of being “a direct party to the conflict." They also warn that if Ukraine is admitted to NATO, which it has already submitted a fast-track membership bid to join, this could trigger World War Three.

Here's what countries are sending to Ukraine:

Germany

Since Russia first began its airstrike against Ukraine on Monday, Germany has sent the first of four IRIS-T SLM air defense systems to Kyiv.

The IRIS-T system is manufactured by Diehl Defense, based in Überlingen, and cost about €140 million ($136 million) each. They are designed to provide medium-range, high-altitude cover for small cities and armies.

The missiles are deployable 360 degrees around the launcher and use infrared imaging to identify targets. The weapons have so far never been used on the battlefield and the final tests on the device were only conducted in late 2021.