In Brussels, during the 35th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and the defense ministers of partner countries, participants discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, the supply of artillery shells and UGVs, and the development of a European anti-ballistic program.
The Head of State thanked all participants of the meeting for their assistance to Ukraine.
“Some of you, dear friends, I remember from the very first days of this war. Some ministers have changed over time. But what matters, and what has never changed, is our determination, our cooperation, and our support for one another. You always look for ways to help, and you find them. And because of you, thousands and thousands of lives have been saved,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President noted the importance of this meeting, which is taking place after the G7 Summit in France, where there were good meetings with all leaders, including President of the United States Donald Trump.
“The President of the United States is very clear about increasing pressure on Russia to end this terrible war Russia has brought against Ukraine and all of Europe. And this is also the shared position of all G7 leaders. We are grateful for this unity. We have the tools, and they are strong enough to put Russia on a path where diplomacy becomes the only choice,” the Head of State noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has created a counter-drone system with an interception effectiveness rate of more than 90%. However, the issue of our own anti-ballistic capabilities remains the main challenge for the security of Ukraine and all of Europe.
“We invite all countries to contribute to these common efforts as much as possible. Our anti-ballistic coalition – all the countries that are part of it – must demonstrate full capability and deliver real results – better this year. By this winter, we should already see concrete outcomes from our joint work on anti-ballistic defense,” the President said.
The Head of State thanked partners for bilateral cooperation, support for Ukraine’s defense, contributions to the PURL program, and new assistance packages.
“I know that some countries have already prepared decisions on new contributions to PURL. I am very grateful for this. Please, let us implement these decisions as quickly as possible. We have heard that some countries would like to announce their contributions to PURL at the Summit in Ankara this year, but that is still several weeks away. Let us make these important decisions here, at this meeting, so that we can deliver the weapons needed for protection,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The President also separately drew attention to Russia’s strike on the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and emphasized that Ukraine will respond to Russia with force – exclusively against military targets or anything that helps Russia wage war.
“Today you can see one of those responses – in the Moscow region this morning. So our long-range sanctions are hitting Russian oil facilities and refineries very effectively. Russia is already facing fuel shortages and their federal budget revenues are falling significantly. And at the same time, our mid-range strikes are seriously disrupting Russian military logistics. But Putin is not stopping this war. He insists on continuing it. So the pressure must grow,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine is ready to share its military expertise and cooperate in drone production. Fifteen NATO countries and 12 non-aligned states from different regions of the world have already joined the Drone Deals partnership. The President called for using the meeting to accelerate work in this area.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that the future architecture of European security is impossible without the Ukrainian army and its experience. He emphasized the insufficient production and supply of artillery shells and unmanned ground vehicles.
“Right now, there is not enough of either. We need both urgently.
The funding being allocated for this is not enough. The quantities Europe is producing are not enough. What the Ukrainian army is receiving is not enough. But we can increase all of this. The capacity is there,” the President emphasized.
Federal Minister of Defense of Germany Boris Pistorius noted that during his trip to Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro, he was impressed by the professionalism of Ukrainian soldiers and their innovative warfare tactics. According to him, Germany is interested in developing defense cooperation with Ukraine, and important arrangements on the development of anti-ballistic capabilities were signed today.
“Several German companies are interested in this project. It can become an important contribution to the security of Europe and Ukraine,” Boris Pistorius said.
UK Secretary of State for Defence Dan Jarvis announced a new assistance package that will include long-range artillery munitions, missiles for Patriot systems, and new Ukrainian drones.
The NATO Secretary General noted the successes of Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield and assured that support would continue.
“Ukraine must have all the capabilities it needs to defend itself. And Ukraine has repeatedly shown that it not only receives support but also provides assistance to other countries facing similar threats. We must do everything possible not only to speak, but also to back up our words with actions and practical support,” Mark Rutte said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the Ukrainian army is the only one in Europe capable of withstanding a full-scale and prolonged war, and that after this aggression, it will become the main force able to prevent any future actions by the Russian leader.
“I thank the European Union for the €90 billion support package, which will help a lot. It's true. I also thank all of you for your bilateral support decisions. But I also ask you to develop the necessary financial instruments for the years ahead – to ensure the Ukrainian army remains strong enough. If we want Europe to have the strongest army, one that can truly respond to any threat, this is only possible with long-term cooperation with Ukraine and long-term support for the Ukrainian army,” the President concluded.
Following the meeting, nine countries announced new contributions to the PURL program: Norway, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Iceland, and Australia. The total amount is more than $1 billion – the largest announced within the framework of UDCG meetings.
There is also support for the Czech initiative and the supply of long-range shells. Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain announced more than $500 million in assistance for this area. Ukraine will receive some of the long-range munitions as early as this month.
The United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Norway will allocate about $1 billion for the production of Ukrainian drones and missiles.
