Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia possesses powerful ballistic missiles and has, or will soon have, the capability to launch them over distances of up to 5,000 kilometres. To counter this threat, Ukraine and Europe need their own missile defence system.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this in an interview with BFMTV.
“Russia has missiles capable of striking any European city. Therefore, Europe needs its own missile defence system. It will be cheaper than Patriot and should be similar,” Zelenskyy said.
To counter this threat, Ukraine is working on missile defence and air defence systems. The president noted that they are rarely discussed because they are still being tested, but self-defence remains the priority.
The project must be entirely European. France, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Norway and other countries are expected to be involved in the work. In total, eight countries could provide various components.
“It is like a Lego set, ballistic Lego,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, if the tests are successfully completed, the new system could appear as early as 2026.
“It will be fantastic and very useful,” the president added.
Zelenskyy stressed that to create a safe Europe with a powerful air shield for all countries, someone must finance the project, someone must manufacture the systems, and someone must sell them.
The president also described Ukraine as a “wall” between Russia and other European territories. According to him, the war remains far from France because Ukraine is protecting Europe’s security.
