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Ukraine currently produces 10 million drones annually and will play a leading role in building a joint European missile defense system, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit and in his address marking Ukrainian Statehood Day, UATV English reports.
Speaking at the summit, Zelenskyy thanked the visiting leaders for coming to Ukraine and highlighted the country’s resilience.
“Ukraine has a thousand years of statehood, a thousand years of courage, and a thousand years of the desire to live independently and follow only its own path,” the president said.
In his Statehood Day address, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is committed to helping establish a common European anti-ballistic missile defense architecture.
“Ukraine will do everything to build a joint European missile defense system,” he said.
According to the president, Ukraine is set to become a key participant in Europe’s emerging anti-ballistic defense project designed to protect the continent from Russian missile threats.
Zelenskyy also revealed that Ukrainian specialists are developing indigenous ballistic missiles and that Kyiv is close to reaching an agreement with the United States on the production of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.
The president noted that Ukraine’s Defense Forces have already demonstrated their ability to strike Russian military targets previously considered beyond reach.
“Our goal isn’t a Russia without gasoline, but a Ukraine without Russia,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing that Ukraine’s long-range operations are intended to remove the Russian military presence from Ukrainian territory.
The remarks come as Ukraine and its European partners accelerate cooperation on joint missile defense projects and expand domestic production of advanced defense technologies.
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