Yesterday at 19:21
Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov held talks with U.S. congressmen Richard Blumenthal and Jim Himes on key priorities for Ukraine’s defense support, including air defense, battlefield capabilities, and technological cooperation.
According to Fedorov, ballistic missile threats remain one of the greatest challenges for protecting Ukrainian airspace, UATV English reports.
“Ballistic missiles remain one of the biggest challenges for defending Ukraine’s skies. That is why it is critically important to continue deliveries of PAC-2 GEM-T and PAC-3 missiles, as well as further develop the PURL mechanism,” the minister stated.
He noted that more than 90% of Ukraine’s anti-ballistic capabilities are currently being provided through the NATO-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.
During the meeting, Fedorov presented the latest battlefield results achieved by Ukrainian forces.
“We are strengthening air defense, continuing to destroy the enemy on the front line, and striking Russian logistics and economic infrastructure,” he said.
According to the minister, Ukraine is increasing interception rates in the air domain, scaling up “small-scale” air defense systems and interceptor drones, and adapting defensive solutions to new types of Russian missiles and evolving attack tactics.
“On the ground, we are seizing the initiative, destroying Russian logistics, scaling up middle-strike capabilities and technological solutions aimed at containing the enemy,” Fedorov added.
He also stressed that Ukrainian long-range strikes continue targeting facilities that enable Russia to finance and sustain the war effort.
A significant part of the discussions focused on expanding technological cooperation with the United States, particularly in the field of defense technologies and artificial intelligence.
Fedorov said Ukraine is already testing partner technologies under real combat conditions and helping identify which solutions prove effective on the battlefield.
“At the same time, we are training AI models using unique combat data, opening a new level of cooperation and scaling effective defense-tech solutions,” he noted.
The defense minister emphasized that, under the direction of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine continues systematically targeting Russia across all domains of warfare — in the air, on the ground, and in the economic sphere.
“Our goal is to ensure that every decision by our partners delivers maximum results exactly where it is needed most,” Fedorov said.
He also thanked the United States for continued support and stressed that Ukraine intends to deepen defense and technological cooperation in order to strengthen the Armed Forces and end the war from a position of strength.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also met with Blumenthal and Himes to discuss additional support for Ukraine, including the strengthening of air defense systems.
