Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky called air defense, long-range weapons and artillery vital priorities in the matter of assistance to our country from allies.
He said this in his address to the participants of the meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format.
According to the head of state, further developments at the front depend on how quickly Ukraine and its allies act and whether the agreements are fulfilled.
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Ukraine’s priorities in the matter of assistance to allies
First priority, which was voiced by Zelensky, is long-range weapon. Zelensky thanked his partners for the decisions already made on missiles that are “already operating at the front” — Storm Shadow, SCALP and ATACMS.
The President called air defense the second priority. He said that the Russian army only this year used 9 thousand guided bombs against Ukraine.
—We need the capabilities to shoot down their warplanes so that they do not approach our positions and the border. It's possible. Just as it is possible to protect Ukrainian cities from Russian missiles. We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them, — Zelensky emphasized.
According to the president, Ukraine needs at least seven such systems. He also recalled the acceleration of the provision of F-16 fighters.
The third priority Zelensky named artillery and shells. He noted that now The imbalance of Ukrainian and Russian forces in artillery is 1:10, and this situation encourages Russia to think about a counter-offensive.
The fourth priority he named weapons production, as in partner countries, and in joint projects.
21st meeting Ramstein
April 26, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin opened the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format.
Austin also reported that the first F-16 fighters will begin arriving in Ukraine this year, along with trained pilots and personnel who will maintain the aircraft.
