During his participation in the European Council meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the leaders of the European Union member states to support Ukraine with long-range weapons and air defense systems, to adopt a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets, to ensure the implementation of the PURL and SAFE initiatives, and to find a way to unblock the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
The Head of State noted that Russia wants Ukraine to enter winter in a blackout and is destroying normal life to force people to flee the country. Today, a Russian drone killed two journalists in the Donetsk region; yesterday, several Russian drones deliberately attacked a kindergarten in Kharkiv; and the day before, in Sumy, they struck a street. Almost every day, Russians attack energy facilities in the Chernihiv region.
“This kind of terror against our energy system is not just a local problem or a conflict just between two countries somewhere far away. It’s becoming a part of how future wars might look. Russia is turning anything destructive into a tool of war – it’s part of their military tactics and doctrine now,” emphasized Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to the President, the use of long-range weapons will make Vladimir Putin’s regime feel the real consequences of the war.
“I urge you to support everything that helps Ukraine get such capabilities – because it really makes a difference for Russia. And these long-range weapons are not only in the United States – some European countries also have them, including Tomahawks. We are already talking to the countries that can help. And just look at how nervous, by the way, Putin became when this topic came up. He understands that long-range weapons can truly change the course of the war,” the Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of making a decision on the use of frozen Russian assets as quickly as possible. The proposed mechanism is fully legal and fair, as it is based on the idea of future reparations.
“We plan to use a significant part of these funds to buy European weapons. This is important for me. And this money can help both – you and us. It can also be used right now to strengthen us: to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense, air fleet, frontline positions. That means saving lives,” the President said.
The Head of State added that he had discussed with the U.S. government and defense companies the supply of Patriot systems, but some countries are ahead of Ukraine on the waiting list.
“We suggest changing the order – if we get the systems now, we’re ready to give them back or replace them when it’s our turn. So please be flexible with our air defense needs – in a time of war, saving lives must be the top priority,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President also highlighted the importance of the PURL initiative. According to him, in October, it covered urgent needs, but not all promised contributions have arrived. The Head of State called for speeding up this process and urged countries that have not yet joined to participate. In addition, the SAFE program, to which about 20 European countries have joined, can be equally effective.
“But it will only work if it’s clearly connected to this war, because this war is showing what really works and what doesn’t. And we are talking to everyone to make sure SAFE includes a clear focus on Ukraine. And when we talk about this, we mean co-production, first of all, of course,” the President added.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized that progress on the clusters in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations has been blocked for more than six months.
“Ukraine has done everything needed to open the clusters on time. The blockage is artificial, and we need to find a way to move forward. EU enlargement means more stability in Europe. It’s also part of our shared defense – part of Europe’s geopolitical security,” the Head of State concluded.
