During the Cyprus summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Europe to create a comprehensive defense system capable of protecting borders and infrastructure and countering modern drone threats, the President's Office reported.
He stressed that Ukraine already possesses unique battlefield experience and is ready to integrate it into a unified European security architecture.
Ukraine expects rapid funding for war and winter
Zelensky thanked the EU for its 20th sanctions package against Russia and said Ukraine expects the first tranche from a €90 billion support package as soon as possible.
The funds are expected to be used for:
- procurement of weapons, including air defense systems
- winter preparedness
- protection of the energy system
“These funds are intended for our army,” the president emphasized.
Strategy of attrition
The Ukrainian president stated that the frontline situation has stabilized and that Russia is losing 30,000–35,000 soldiers per month.
“We must make the situation even more difficult for them to push them toward diplomacy,” Zelenskyy stressed.
Missile shortages and global competition
Zelensky yalso highlighted a critical shortage of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, as global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, are affecting supply availability.
“Please support our efforts to procure Patriot missiles. This is essential,” he said.
From Shaheds to maritime defense
The Ukrainian president emphasized that Ukraine is already cooperating with Middle Eastern and Gulf countries in drone defense and air defense technologies.
He noted ongoing efforts to build protection against Shahed drones and maritime threats.
Ukraine is proposing a similar integrated model for Europe, covering:
- borders
- coastal zones
- critical infrastructure
- airspace
Zelenskyy urged accelerating the SAFE program and creating a joint European mechanism to counter drones.
“We are ready to invest our experience, our industry, and our capabilities,” he said.
Ukraine integration as security strategy for Europe
The president also called on the EU to unlock negotiation clusters for Ukraine’s accession process as early as May.
He argued that faster integration would help prevent Russian attempts to weaken Europe and block EU enlargement.
