Ukrainian PM Shmyhal on Drone Strikes, Long-Range Missiles, and EU Membership

Justification for Drone Strikes

• 🎯 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that drone strikes on Russian airfields were a necessary military operation to clear the sky from Russian bombers.
• ⚡ These strikes aim to protect Ukrainian civilians from nightly missile and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure.
• 💡 Shmyhal emphasized that Ukraine proposed a ceasefire two months prior, but Russia continues its attacks.

Technological Advancements in Warfare

• 🚀 Innovative technologies, including drones and artificial intelligence, are described as game-changers on the battlefield.
• 🌊 Ukraine has successfully used small sea drones to liberate the Black Sea, and similar operations are planned for the sky and ground.

Plea for Long-Range Weapons

• 🔑 The Prime Minister urged Western allies to provide long-range missiles to cut Russian logistics near Ukrainian borders.
• 🗣️ While acknowledging positive political messages from allies like Germany regarding long-range weapons, Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine is still waiting for delivery.
• 🤝 Ukraine seeks more support, including joint ventures for producing effective military equipment, from European partners like France and Germany.

Peace Negotiations and Territorial Integrity

• 🕊️ Ukraine's conditions for negotiation include a total ceasefire, the return of all Ukrainian children, and an exchange of all prisoners of war.
• 🗺️ While territorial concessions are not on the table according to Ukraine's constitution, diplomatic ways to liberate occupied territories will be pursued.
• 🇪🇺 Ukraine remains committed to its constitutional goal of NATO and EU membership, with significant public support.

Financial and Recovery Support

• 💰 Ukraine is working towards the confiscation of frozen Russian assets to finance recovery, following an initial step of using windfall incomes for loans.
• 🌍 The estimated damages to Ukraine's infrastructure exceed half a trillion euros, necessitating substantial financial resources for recovery and reconstruction.