Yesterday at 20:05
Ukraine is ready to share experience and technology to help build a modern European air defense shield, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a joint briefing with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.
“We have already done a lot together to strengthen weapons production. We appreciate Finland’s willingness to support this direction further, not only through funding Ukrainian production but also by creating joint manufacturing facilities,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that similar initiatives are already underway with Denmark, where a production facility is being established, and he hopes this cooperation will expand to other key partners.
Zelenskyy emphasized that air defense remains a top priority for Ukraine, not only for strengthening its own systems but also for building an eastern European air defense shield.
“It is important to implement this in a modern way: with drones protecting Europe, aviation capabilities, and all air defense systems working together as part of a complex system. Ukraine is ready to share experience and expand production,” the president said.
He called on European countries neighboring Ukraine and Russia to join a joint funding program for the production and development of interceptor drones.
“Ukraine, through the war, has become a leader in this area. This is a completely new technological direction, which must be approached as quickly as possible so bureaucratic processes do not interfere. We are open to this cooperation,” Zelenskyy noted.
The president stressed that Europe and the world do not have enough missiles to shoot down all types of drones.
“A missile that costs hundreds of thousands to a million dollars simply cannot intercept drones that cost tens of thousands. It’s just impossible,” he said.
The statement follows Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace on the night of September 10. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported 19 violations, with some drones coming from Belarus. For the first time, Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s shot down Russian drones over NATO territory.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski called the attack “deliberate” and emphasized that it was not an accidental incident.
