Ukraine should eventually achieve maximum defense independence - Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a video address, Ukrinform reports, citing the presidential website.
Ukrinform offers the full address delivered by the head of state.
"I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today I held a meeting of the Staff. Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi and Chief of the General Staff Barhylevych delivered reports on the front – our actions, our steps, and the real situation with the occupier's intentions and capabilities. Our task is to ensure by all means and with all our strength the constant effective destruction of Russian troops, their logistics and their important positions not only directly on the frontline, but also in all available depths. Available to our long-range capability. We are working with our partners to increase this level of defense. But while we are waiting for our partners' decisions, we are looking for our own solutions, our own options. In this case, the key is our drones, our flexibility in the use of drones. Ukrainian warriors have already proven to be real innovators in many areas of drone use. And it is worth continuing, and we will continue this. I am grateful to everyone who helps with this – those who produce drones, those who supply them, those who train drone operators and those who generally promote this issue. Ukrainian leadership in this technological aspect, it is really tangible. Today, at the Staff meeting, we did a detailed analysis of our electronic warfare capabilities – the things that are already being done, the things that show real combat success. As well as the things we need to do on top of that. Plus, the missile program. Our missile program is showing good dynamics, and although it is a challenging task, we are gradually approaching the possibility of using our own missiles, and not just relying on missiles supplied by our partners. Over time, Ukraine should achieve maximum defense independence, as such states always find effective allies and realize their interests more easily.
The second thing for today. There have been several international meetings. Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, paid a visit to Ukraine. I am grateful for this signal. This is the signal of support for Ukraine, for Ukrainians, and for our desire to live in our own state, and to live truly peacefully. We also appreciate that Cardinal Parolin visited not only Kyiv, but also Odesa, Berdychiv, Lviv. He saw our people's mood, the objective needs of this time. We discussed what exactly can be done this year to bring closer a just peace for Ukraine. It is very important for us and for the cause of peace as such that the Vatican takes an active role in defending life and helping us to implement the Peace Formula and its points, especially those related to the release of prisoners. It was a good meeting, and I hope that the results will follow. I also spoke with the new Prime Minister of Estonia. I thanked him for the support, for our multi-level cooperation. We agreed to meet, and of course, we will continue all our cooperation, both political and defense. And today, the Head of the Office, Andriy Yermak, spoke with Phil Gordon, the National Security Advisor to the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. It was at the Vice President's level that America participated in the first Peace Summit, and it is important that the momentum of our joint work for a just peace does not diminish. All our partners at all levels know and will know in the future what the prospects are and that the just peace can indeed be restored as soon as possible.
And one more thing. I thank the warriors of our 110th separate mechanized brigade for their precision. They shot down another Russian Su-25 in the Donetsk region. This is exactly what we need. Well done, guys!
Glory to Ukraine!"
