Oleksii MAKEIEV 🇺🇦

In the past few days, we have received signals from the American side that talks may resume soon. But with what mindset will the Russian side come to the talks this time? It depends on all of us together to make sure the Russians do not come to these talks feeling that their position has grown much stronger. And it is not only because of the situation around Iran, which is pushing global oil prices higher. First, Russians see active use of air defense missiles in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and they may think Ukraine will face a shortage of such missiles. Second, the EU’s 20th sanctions package against Russia is stalled. It could have continued the pressure on Russia to move toward real peace. Third, the United States has eased some sanctions on Russia, and this brings significant money into Putin’s war budget. Next, for the third month now, the most important financial security guarantee for Ukraine from Europe is not working – the 90-billion-euro support package for this year and the next. This is critical for us. It is a resource to protect lives. And the fifth point, even today, we do not know for sure whether this support will be unblocked. From an address to the European Council meeting (1/3).

Over the past week alone, the Russians struck Ukraine with 1,770 attack drones, more than 1,530 guided aerial bombs, and 86 missiles, including more than 20 ballistic ones. Each of these missiles contains at least 60 foreign components supplied to Russia in circumvention of sanctions. The schemes used for such supplies are known, and they must be shut down. If the world does not have enough air defense capabilities to close the sky against ballistic missiles in Europe and the Middle East simultaneously, we must deprive the Russians of the ability to assemble missiles at their factories. I am grateful to everyone who continues to work on sanctions to protect lives.

Efforts to deal with the aftermath of the massive Russian attack are currently underway in the Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv regions. All necessary services are involved. The main target for the Russians was the energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region, but unfortunately, there were also direct hits on and damage to ordinary residential buildings, schools, and civilian businesses. As of now, four people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people have been injured, and some are still seeking medical assistance. Over the course of the night, the Russians launched around 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles. There were 13 ballistic missiles alone, and the total number of missiles in this attack was 68. According to preliminary data, 58 of them were intercepted by our air defense system. And every such night of Russian strikes is a reminder to all our partners that air defenses and the missiles for them are effectively a daily necessity. Every agreement on missile supplies cannot wait – everything must be implemented as quickly as possible. Our agreements to increase the production of air defense missiles are a critical direction, and this direction requires one hundred percent attention. Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine. This is why we must be fully aware of the real level of the threat and prepare accordingly, namely: in Europe, we need to develop the production of air defense missiles – especially those capable of countering ballistic threats – as well as all other systems necessary to truly protect lives, regardless of what may be happening in any other part of the world. Europe is able to ensure this level of reliable protection. Thank you to everyone who is helping!