Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday asked prime minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu for air defense systems, according to multiple Ukrainian media outlets.
Zelensky also said that Netanyahu will consider the request and will "deal with this issue as soon as possible," according to Ukrainian media.
Zelensky clarified that Ukraine is not asking for "weapons that can attack" but only asking for defense systems to protect Ukrainians.
Ukraine's previous request for air defense systems
This isn't the first time the Ukrainian government has asked for Israeli defense systems, on October 18, The Ukrainian government sent an official letter to Israel, requesting air defense systems.
Those systems were meant to allow Ukraine to counter Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones that are being used by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
On November 8, Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that Israel does not have the production capacity to supply air defense systems to Ukraine.
“It is clear that even if it decided that we change our policy, it is impossible to empty our supply of air defense systems,” Gantz told reporters. “We are checking every day what can be done and how we can expand our aid, but we must not forget that NATO stands behind Ukraine.”
Russia's missiles attacks on Ukraine
Russia shot missiles at cities across Ukraine on Tuesday, setting off sirens in nearly a dozen major cities in Ukraine. Ukraine said that this was the heaviest Russian missile attack since the start of the invasion in February.
Russia had launched 110 missiles as well as 10 Iranian-made drones, according to Ukrainian armed forces general staff statement. President Zelensky has said that Russia will not achieve its goals in this attack.
This attack came mere days after the Russian forces has retreated from the strategic city of Kherson, in what became both a strategic and symbolic victory for Ukraine. On November 14, President Zelensky visited Kherson, celebrating its recapture from the Russian forces. "The people were waiting for the Ukrainian army, for our soldiers, for all of us," Zelensky said in his visit.
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this article.