Today at 18:18
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia hopes to use incidents involving stray Ukrainian drones to damage relations between Ukraine and its close partners, particularly the Baltic states and Finland.
As reported by UATV English, Zelenskyy made the remarks during a joint briefing of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) leaders in Tallinn after being asked about the issue by journalists.
The president noted that both Ukraine and Russia use electronic warfare systems to counter hostile drones, and that Russia is attempting to gain additional advantages from this situation.
“They can alter the drones’ direction in order to divide us in Europe. To put pressure on Europe, on Finland, on our Baltic friends, and then use it as a narrative that it was a Ukrainian attack. That has been their goal from the very beginning: to divide us, to reduce public support for Ukraine in European countries,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that the most important thing Ukraine can do in response is to deepen cooperation with partners through Drone Deal agreements and by sharing its battlefield experience and expertise.
“We are ready to send our specialists to all these countries where we see even potential risks. We are ready to send expert teams to teach and train them on how to protect themselves from such incidents. That is what we can realistically do. The best solution is to stop the Russians and stop this war. But for now, this is what we can do,” he said.
Earlier on June 9, during Zelenskyy’s meeting with Latvia’s new prime minister, Kyiv and Riga signed a Drone Deal on cooperation in unmanned technologies.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė previously announced the arrival of Ukrainian air-defense specialists who will help strengthen protection against stray drones.
It is worth recalling that NATO fighter jets have already shot down such drones twice over the Baltic states—first over Estonia and later over Latvia. In recent months, dozens of drones have either crashed on their own or entered the airspace of Ukraine’s partner countries.
Read also: Zelenskyy on His Letters to Putin and Trump: “I Got the Result I Needed”
