Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that securing air defense capabilities has become Ukraine's primary diplomatic objective. Speaking during a visit to Norway, Zelensky emphasized the urgent need for interceptor missiles to repel ongoing Russian aerial attacks.
"Our main diplomatic priority at this moment is cooperation in favor of air defense," Zelensky stated in a social media message, according to reports from latercera.com. He added, "We need air defense missiles every day; every day that Russia continues its attacks against our cities."
Zelensky highlighted that Russia has not altered its use of combined attack tactics. He noted that recent strikes across six Ukrainian provinces resulted in multiple fatalities, including children.
Expanding European military production
The Ukrainian leader praised the support provided by NATO partners through the PURL initiative. He confirmed that recent negotiations have secured additional contributions from both Germany and Norway.
Zelensky specifically noted a new agreement with Germany regarding PAC-2 missiles and additional launchers for IRIS-T systems. He stated that these specific defense results "guarantee the protection of thousands of Ukrainian lives."
Beyond immediate hardware deliveries, Zelensky is pushing for localized manufacturing within Europe. He said Kyiv is working with European partners to jointly produce air defense systems, missiles, and various types of drones.
Zelensky argued that modern warfare cannot be sustained without these domestic production capabilities. "Without these elements, real defense in modern war is impossible," the president said, according to latercera.com.
