софія перша

I held a Staff meeting. An important achievement of our state and our weapons manufacturers is that Ukraine has reached the capability to produce such a volume of technologically advanced weapons that, in the long term, it can surpass Russia’s capabilities. Today, we focused most of our attention on this. We also spoke directly with the manufacturers about what is needed from the state, from administrative decisions and financing, to maximize all types of Ukrainian capabilities and ensure deep forms of pressure on Russia, on its battlefield capacity, and on its ability to drag out the war. This concerns primarily Ukrainian drones of all types, unmanned ground systems, our missile program, electronic warfare systems, and military equipment. This discussion today, held with the participation of weapons manufacturers, was a continuation – at the highest level of military decision-making – of consultations that have been taking place over the past few weeks at the National Security and Defense Council, in Parliament, and at the Ministry of Defense. First, I instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense to focus on working with partners to secure additional funding for production. I expect concrete results – agreements with partners. Investment in Ukrainian production is an investment in forcing Russia towards peace, and our partners must see this as our shared achievement. Second, the implementation of Ukraine’s long-range sanctions plan and medium-range sanctions has shown that limiting Russia’s ability to wage war depends directly on spreading among Russian social groups the sense that the war is directly affecting everyday life. Ukraine will continue its policy of increasing the cost of occupation for the occupiers and restricting Russia’s ability to finance the war. Third, I am grateful to all our specialists who are developing our missile program, including work on effective Ukrainian ballistic and anti-ballistic systems. Today, we effectively reviewed capabilities and defined steps that will accelerate production, testing, and deployment. We also separately reviewed the volumes and timelines for the delivery of air defenses that are needed on an almost daily basis. In the coming days, the key priority across all diplomatic work, all meetings and negotiations will be air defense for Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who is helping. I am proud of everyone who produces defense capabilities for Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine!

Unfortunately, there is a shortage of anti-ballistic capabilities – a shortage of Patriots – while Putin still intends to “vanquish” residential buildings rather than end his war. We have been discussing licenses for the production of Patriots with the U.S. Administration for a long time already. I thank all the countries helping through the PURL program, which enables us to purchase interceptors for Patriots. However, to reliably protect lives, we need our own production. European production here in Ukraine, or jointly with our partners, would also support the U.S. in operations whenever needed. We hope for a positive response from President Trump to protect lives. I also thank everyone who has expressed condolences to Ukraine today, everyone who has not remained silent and condemned Russian terror.

The Russian leadership is now pulling more air defense assets to Moscow, Valdai, and Putin’s bridge across the Kerch Strait – at the expense of air defense elsewhere. In the Moscow region alone, they have amassed hundreds of launchers for S-400, S-500, and Pantsir systems. Nearly 90 launchers have been redeployed to Valdai from other regions of Russia, and a special air defense division is also being formed there to safeguard the peace and quiet of the Russian chief. To compare, there are only a couple of launchers per direction across Russia and around their other cities. Those are their priorities. They are protecting their power – the source of this war. More than 60 Russian regions are already experiencing fuel shortages. There has also been a sharp increase in gas and diesel prices – if they are available at all. Russian security services have even proposed postponing or cancelling altogether the ritual of electing “United Russia” to the State Duma. Their latest imitation of elections was scheduled for September, and intelligence reports now show that Russia itself is not confident about what will be happening by September. There are many difficulties – all because Putin refuses to end his war and to hear our proposals for a meeting, genuine negotiations, and a dignified peace.

Among all the European nations that have already joined the European Union or see such a prospect for themselves, Ukraine is the one making the greatest sacrifices for Europe. We are not simply carrying out internal reforms, nor are we simply going through a transformation. We are fighting for our state, for our independence, and for our right to choose our own path and to be Europe. And this right of ours is at the same time the right of every nation in our region. We are fighting for our freedom and theirs, for Europe for ourselves and for them – for the Baltic states and for Poland, for Hungary and Slovakia, for Romania and Moldova, and for the peoples of the Caucasus. That is why the fate of Europe is being decided here – it is being decided in Ukraine, in this war, and in how this war ends – and whether Russia will still have the strength and the desire after this war to threaten the existence of Ukraine and its other neighbors, and the entirety of Europe. That is why we must end this war with dignity and with guaranteed security. And this is what we will discuss with our partners during the G7 Summit in France, and later at the European Council Summit and at the NATO Summit in Ankara.

I held a meeting with Latvian Defense Minister Raivis Melnis, who is visiting Ukraine on his first trip abroad since taking office. We discussed the implementation of the Drone Deal signed between our countries this week. Through this format, in particular, we will be able to share with Latvia our expertise in air defense. Ukraine is always ready to help friends who have stood with us since the very beginning of Russia’s aggression. And, importantly, we share the same understanding: security challenges arise because Russia refuses to end its war through diplomacy. We also discussed opportunities to finance joint projects under SAFE and cooperation within the European Union, NATO, and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). I thank Latvia and all the Latvian people for their support!

Today, for the first time, we mark the Day of the Unmanned Systems Forces, and from now on, each year, June 11 will be a day of our gratitude to the warriors of the Unmanned Systems Forces. Modern warfare can no longer be imagined without drones, and Ukrainian unmanned systems are operating successfully at different levels: from carrying out missions on the frontline to striking important enemy facilities hundreds of kilometers deep inside its territory. All of this is being documented, and it is thanks to the precision and skill of our operators that Russia’s losses have long exceeded 30,000 killed and wounded per month. I thank each and every person serving in the Unmanned Systems Forces, developing Ukrainian technologies, and working for the sake of our advantage on the battlefield. Thank you to everyone who is working to reduce Russia’s capabilities and strengthen our security.

I received briefings by Chief of the General Staff Andrii Hnatov and NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov. General Hnatov reported on our defensive actions and Ukraine’s deep strikes over the past day – there are good results. I thank the Defense Forces, all our warriors, and the manufacturers — everyone involved in long-range strikes. We will keep building our strength. Rustem Umerov provided a detailed report on the implementation of our recent security and economic agreements in the Middle East and the Gulf region. We are making progress as planned. Separately, we are working on the strategic Drone Deal with the European Union. The day before, we discussed this in detail with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. We are developing a plan that will help strengthen Europe’s defense and cover all key security elements. I instructed Andrii Hnatov and Rustem Umerov to work out the specific military modalities of this cooperation with the European Union.

We are now finding our own sanctions formats against Russia’s shadow fleet. And this morning, we demonstrated our results – what Ukraine was able to achieve overnight. But partner sanctions are also needed. For example, the United Kingdom is doing this the right way, and it is important for us that they help other partners respond accordingly. In particular, we are discussing this today with Prime Minister Starmer and other partners during the visit to Armenia. This visit is the first in the past 24 years. That means an entire generation has grown up in both Ukraine and Armenia during this time. Nevertheless, it is important that the visit is taking place, and that it coincides with the arrival of many other European – and not only European – leaders in Yerevan to take part in the European Political Community Summit. For the first time, Armenia is hosting the European Political Community Summit. The fact that so many countries have come together in this way is certainly a strong European signal to Russia. Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney has also arrived. A meeting with him is scheduled for tomorrow. It is important that we all coordinate in a substantive way. From a conversation with the media ahead of the meeting with Keir Starmer.

Easter should be a time of security and peace. It would be right for a ceasefire to continue beyond the holiday. We have conveyed this proposal to Russia, and if Russia once more chooses war over peace, it will yet again show the world, and the United States in particular, who truly stands for what. Ukraine will act symmetrically.