This was the key message from Ambassador Alyona Getmanchuk, Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, at the Kyiv Security Forum in Brussels.

Protecting Ukraine’s energy system and critical infrastructure requires passive protection measures, air defence and the ability to strike the source of Russia’s attacks.

“Air defence is like a painkiller: it can relieve the symptoms, but we need to address the source of the pain. We need proactive defence — deep-strike capabilities aimed at destroying Russian ballistic missile launchers, drones and defence industry facilities,” Ambassador Getmanchuk said.

She highlighted NATO’s role in strengthening Ukraine’s air defence, particularly through PURL, which enables European Allies, Canada and partners, including Japan, New Zealand and Australia, to fund purchases of US weapons for Ukraine.

“PURL has continued to deliver and has been the main source of critical air defence capabilities throughout the year, including Patriot interceptors. We have received the vast majority of these missiles through this mechanism,” she noted.

NATO also helps amplify Ukraine’s requests for additional equipment directly from Allies’ stocks.

While global interceptor supplies remain limited, Ambassador Getmanchuk stressed that a major obstacle is Allies’ willingness to take calculated risks.

“In most cases, the biggest challenge is not depleted stocks, but the political willingness to take calculated risks and provide Ukraine with these interceptors now. We are not even asking for a donation, but for an exchange: provide missiles from your stocks now to help us get through this winter, and we can replenish them later with missiles we have already contracted.”