Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says the country urgently needs advanced air defence systems to counter Russian attacks such as the recent strikes on Kyiv and other cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Nato?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nato – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – is a defensive military alliance.<\/a> It was formed in 1949 by 12 countries, including the US, UK, Canada and France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Members agree to help one another if they come under armed attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nato’s original goal was to challenge Russian expansion in Europe after World War Two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, many of the Eastern European countries which had joined Russia in the Warsaw Pact were granted Nato membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Russia has long argued that Nato’s acceptance of these former allies threatens its security. It has vehemently opposed Ukraine’s desire to join the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the Russian invasion in February, individual Nato member countries have sent Ukraine billions of dollars’ worth of weapons and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United States<\/strong> has given Ukraine almost half of all the foreign-supplied weapons it has received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Its $15bn (\u00a313.5bn) package includes the long-range Himars system,<\/a> Javelin anti-tank missiles, howitzers, and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Poland<\/strong> is providing almost a quarter of Ukraine’s weapons from abroad, including T-72 tanks and missiles for its fighter jets. Some of the Soviet-era equipment it has provided has been upgraded to perform better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weapons from Germany<\/strong> include self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and portable surface-to-air missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n France <\/strong>has provided Caesar self-propelled guns.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Equipment sent by the UK <\/strong>includes NLAW anti-tank weapons<\/a> and MLRS long-range missile systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nato member countries are also providing extensive training to Ukrainian troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Ukraine is not a member, Nato states are not obliged to defend it, and no country has sent troops to Ukraine to help it directly against Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are about 40,000 Nato troops stationed in alliance member countries in the region, such as in the Baltic states and Poland, with another 300,000 troops on “high alert”.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nato states have been reluctant to send troops to help defend Ukraine, or to operate a no-fly zone over the country,<\/a> for fear that it could lead to an all-out conflict between Russia and the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite this, President Vladimir Putin has said there are military units in Ukraine “under the de-facto command of Western advisers”, a claim widely reported by Russian media outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is well known that foreign fighters have joined Ukrainian military units, but there is no evidence that there are serving Nato personnel on the ground.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/emp.bbc.com\/emp\/SMPj\/2.46.4\/iframe.htmlMedia caption,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Watch: Foreign fighters, including one former British Army soldier, share why they joined the Ukrainian war effort<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mr Zelensky has asked for more surface-to-air missiles, to guard against attacks such as those which have recently targeted Kyiv, Lviv and Zaporizhzhia.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n He said: “Air defence is currently the number one priority.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response, Germany has started delivering units of its Iris-T infrared-guided air defence system, which can shoot down cruise missiles, drones and aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US says it will soon deliver two units of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, which has similar capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg backed Mr Zelensky’s request, and said he welcomes the fact that Nato nations are providing more of such equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukraine has recently asked Nato to “fast-track” its membership.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2008, Nato countries said it could join in the future, but set no timetable for full enrolment. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014,<\/a> Ukraine made joining a priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the Russian invasion, nine Nato countries from central and eastern Europe have supported Ukraine’s request to become a member in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, both the US and Mr Stoltenberg have said now is not the time to consider granting it full membership, and that it is more important to provide weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow have Nato countries supported Ukraine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/14F7B\/production\/_126338858_himars4.png\")
Why are Nato countries not sending troops?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What more does Ukraine want?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Will Ukraine join Nato?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which other countries want to join Nato?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Graphic](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/15C48\/production\/_124706198_finland_sweden_military_640-2x-nc.png\")
<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"