Russia's methodical strikes on Ukraine's critical facilities and especially its latest brutal attack on civilian targets, including a children's hospital, have prompted an immediate reaction among leaders of North Atlantic alliance member states, Voice of America reports.

On the first day of the NATO summit, U.S. President Joe Biden, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis made a joint statement on providing additional air defense systems to Ukraine, joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Today we announce," the statement reads, "that we will collectively provide Ukraine with additional strategic air defense systems, including additional Patriot batteries donated by the United States, Germany and Romania, Patriot components donated by the Netherlands and other partners to support system operations; an additional Patriot battery; and an additional SAMP-T system donated by Italy. These five strategic air defense systems will help protect Ukrainian cities, civilians and the military."

In addition, in the coming months, the U.S. and partners intend to provide Ukraine with dozens of tactical air defense systems, including NASAMS, HAWK, IRIS T-SLM, IRIS T-SLS, and Gepard.

Meanwhile, several allies, including Canada, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom, will continue to provide the same systems, and many other Ukraine supporters will assist in providing air defense interceptors.