The Western defence alliance on Thursday said the NATO-Ukraine Council would hold a meeting in response to Russia’s recent wave of heavy air attacks on the neighbouring country.

The spokesperson said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is convening the ambassadorial-level meeting to be held on January 10.

Adding that it would be held “at Ukraine’s request following recent Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians, cities and towns.’’

He said NATO countries had delivered many air defence systems to Ukraine and were determined to help Kyiv further.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that one of the central topics would be air defence capabilities.

“NATO has supported Ukraine’s request for an extraordinary NATO-Ukraine Council meeting in response to Russia’s mass air strikes,’’ he wrote on X.

“One of the key topics will be strengthening Ukraine’s air defence. An important sign of Euro-Atlantic unity in the face of Russian terror escalation,’’ he continued.

The NATO-Ukraine Council was established last year and is intended to facilitate close cooperation until the conditions for Ukraine’s admission to NATO are met.

Meetings take place at various levels.

(dpa/NAN)