President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke at a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defence in the Ramstein format on 26 April.
According to Yevropeyska Pravda, the head of state announced the priorities for Ukraine's success in the war with Russia.
Zelenskyy said that "although the Russian army managed to seize the initiative on the battlefield in the six months we waited for a decision on US assistance, we can still not only stabilise the front, but also advance, achieving Ukraine's goals in the war."
Among the priorities:
- long-range weapons so that "no piece of the occupied territory is a safe place for the occupier";
- Air defence systems, at least seven units;
- artillery and shells;
- weapons production both in partner countries and in joint projects.
"This year, Russian aircraft have already used more than 9,000 guided bombs against Ukraine. We need the capability to shoot down their aircraft so that they do not come close to our positions and border. It is possible. Just as it is possible to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missiles. We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them," Zelenskyy stressed.
The President noted that Ukraine currently has the potential to produce, inter alia, drones and electronic warfare systems, but it exceeds the country's financial capacity.