Ukraine is very close to obtaining its own ballistic missiles, Defense Minister Denis Shmygal said in his first interview since taking the position of Defense Minister, BBC Ukraine reported on 30 July.
"Ukraine's president has already announced that Ukraine will have its own ballistics. We are very close to this. That's basically all I can say publicly on this matter," Shmyhal said during the interview.
The announcement comes after former Deputy Defense Minister Anatoliy Klochko said in June that Ukrainians would soon hear "more concrete statements" about Ukrainian ballistics, as the country had made "serious progress" on the issue.
The production of its own ballistic missiles is crucial for Ukraine to enhance its long-range strike potential, deter Russian aggression, and target deep Russian military infrastructure, thereby strengthening its security and defense amid ongoing war.
In his interview for BBC, Shmygal also outlined his vision for bringing Russia to genuine peace talks, emphasizing the need for dual pressure. "I would very much like our partners to help us create sufficient pressure on the Russian aggressor both on the battlefield and through sanctions, and bring them to the negotiating table," he said.
The minister demonstrated his approach using two hands: "On one side, we must create pressure on the battlefield. There must be weapons supplies that will give us if not an advantage, then parity in this war. On the other side, there must be counter-pressure - sanctions that will financially bleed the enemy."
"If these two factors are not present, then negotiations may continue, but more likely they will lead us and our partners in circles around this diplomatic negotiating table," Shmygal said.
