Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia must be forced to accept diplomacy as a means of ending its war against Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
“We need a ceasefire. We need real peace, real security, and we must use all methods at our disposal to achieve this“, Zelensky said via videoconference at a meeting of representatives of Ukraine's allies gathered in Brussels.
But he added that before that, Ukraine must strengthen its own defenses against Russian attacks. Zelensky said that 643 children have been killed in such attacks since February 24, 2022. "We need faster deliveries of missiles and air defense systems," Zelensky stressed to allies in the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense, co-chaired by Britain and Germany. The group brings together about 50 countries that provide military assistance to Ukraine. "Our team provided clear data on the number of systems we need, in particular the Patriot systems, the most effective means of forcing Russia to end its missile attacks and terrorist acts," Zelensky said. The Ukrainian president also recalled the importance of the Ukrainian defense industry, which he said lacks 18 billion euros to operate at full capacity. "We support Ukraine by supplying it with weapons, ammunition, training and everything she needs“, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. He promised Germany to continue long-term assistance to Ukraine.
British Defense Secretary John Healey, in turn, said that Russia is now regularly launching more than 300 drones a day into Ukraine. He described this as a significant change and said that this rate of launch could be maintained throughout 2025.
Previously, the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine was chaired by the United States, but they gave way to Germany and Britain after Donald Trump returned to power. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not participate in today's meeting, but will be in Brussels tomorrow for the meeting of NATO defense ministers.