Our task this year is not only to bolster Ukraine's sky shield and long-range capabilities, but also to inflict systemic losses on Russia – address by the President of Ukraine
7 February 2024 - 21:31
Dear Ukrainians!
A brief summary for today.
- In particular, this applies to frozen Russian assets, both of the terrorist state and of individuals associated with it.
- Everything must be confiscated and used for defense against terror. It is fair to retaliate against a terrorist.
- It is fair to destroy terrorists.
- And it is fair to make the terrorist state pay for its actions.
- And we are working with our partners as vigorously as possible to ensure a decision on Russian assets as soon as possible.
- Specifically, we talked about the confiscation of Russian assets.
- We really need a unified and strong decision. A decision that proves our common respect for international law and absolute contempt for the terrorist state.
- We discussed the European decision on a million artillery rounds for our warriors, and I am grateful for all the efforts to implement this decision and to give our guys on the front line more opportunities.
- Mr. Borrell promised that the agreements would be implemented.
I also met today with the President and members of the Bulgarian Parliament.
- We in Ukraine greatly appreciate Bulgaria's support and integrity.
- And it is really important for every European nation to be in solidarity now, to be on the side of international law and the protection of human life.
- We discussed with the representatives of the Bulgarian Parliament (1) the work on the Peace Formula, (2) the situation in our Black Sea region, and (3) our bilateral cooperation, particularly in the defense sector.
- Bulgaria, thank you!
- Our warriors, our combat brigades.
- Today, we have reasons to commend the 47th separate mechanized brigade.
- This is the Avdiivka direction.
- Thank you, warriors, for your bravery.
- Maryinka direction – the 79th separate air assault brigade.
- Thank you! Bakhmut direction – the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar separate mechanized brigade – well done, warriors!
- Siversk direction – the 54th separate mechanized brigade named after Hetman Mazepa
- and the 81st separate airmobile brigade.
- Thank you all, warriors, for your strength!
- Of course, our artillerymen – the 40th separate artillery brigade.
- Thank you for your accuracy!
I am grateful to everyone who fights for our country, who defends the Ukrainian sky, who ensures security in the Black Sea for Ukraine.
Thank you to everyone who helps us!
And to everyone who works to ensure that Ukraine can withstand and achieve its own goals in the war.
We can win – we have to!
Glory to Ukraine!
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‘You don’t need help with drones’ – EU’s top diplomat to Kiev
The EU will not help Ukraine obtain drones as the country is already proficient at manufacturing them, the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said.
The diplomat, who visited Kiev on Wednesday, pointed out that the EU has already provided Ukraine with €88 billion ($95 billion) in aid, including €28 billion ($30 billion) for the military, since the start of the conflict with Russia in February 2022. He vowed that Brussels will continue its assistance, although apparently not with UAVs.
“You don’t need help with drones,” Borrell insisted during a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba.
The EU’s top diplomat told journalists that he had visited a UAV factory in Ukraine and was “very surprised by the ability of your engineers to create high quality drones in large quantities.”
“And at the end of the war, Ukraine will be at the forefront of a new way of warfare. This is truly amazing,” Borrell added, as cited by the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
The diplomat said he was impressed that “a country can have such a production capacity of advanced and efficient drones out of nothing in one year,” claiming that Ukraine deserves praise.
The rosy picture drawn by the EU foreign policy chief is in stark contrast with remarks by the CEO of Ukrainian drone maker Athlon Avia, Artyom Vyunnik, who last month complained of red tape, logistical problems, and general uncertainty in the industry.
Ukrainian state contract rules have repeatedly changed during the conflict with Russia, becoming “more risky” for producers, Vyunnik told Radio NV, blaming “total disorganization and miscommunication” within the government.
In January, the head of Electronic and Cyber Warfare at Ukraine’s General Staff, Colonel Ivan Pavlenko, told the Financial Times that “the Russians have been producing so many [drones] lately that it’s becoming a huge threat” for Kiev’s forces.
In the same article, the FT acknowledged that Moscow “maintains the upper hand” when it comes to electronic warfare technology aimed at jamming and diverting enemy UAVs, while Kiev is only “trying to catch up.”
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