If NATO member countries need to strengthen their air defense, they will do so at the expense of the air defense that could have been provided to Ukraine.If Ukraine needs more shells, of course, more shells will be produced. If certain weapons are needed, whether defensive or offensive, of course, efforts will be made to produce more of them. And an attack on Poland, of course, encourages Europeans to provide Ukraine with more military assistance.But European countries will try to deploy more air defense systems for themselves, without paying much attention to Ukraine’s needs. This is the objective reality.The only thing that makes sense from the perspective of common sense is if a joint air defense shield were created. But that’s the logic of common sense — and in this war, it often doesn’t work because fear of Russia comes into play. Fear of Russia within NATO and individual NATO countries is far stronger than common sense and even the instinct for self-preservation. I would say that the fear of Russia, which Putin actively exploits, is stronger than the very instinct of self-preservation for most Europeans. And this is the biggest advantage of the Russian president.SourceAbout the author: Vitaly Portnikov, journalist, laureate of the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.The editorial team does not always share the views expressed by blog authors.