We are trying to intercept all Russian drones, even when some of them are going in the direction of other countries, like Romania, Moldova, Poland, or the Baltic states. If we can’t, we immediately notify our partners and try to help them.
Russia uses drones to pressure NATO countries and gauge the reaction. This is their typical message: Don’t help Ukraine. I think there should be a stronger response from a united NATO.
Putin is comparing this reaction to what he saw in previous years. And he is also testing air defenses of NATO countries bordering Russia or Belarus. Are they capable of intercepting all the missiles and drones?
There is not enough anti-ballistic missile production in the United States and this could lead to a crisis in different parts of the world. Russia is ramping up its internal production of ballistic missiles. I sent a letter to the White House and to the U.S. Congress. I hope they will understand and respond.
60–65 anti-ballistic missiles per month, compared to current challenges, is nothing. It is no secret and Russia knows this. We need to expand the production. I asked the previous U.S. administration, and I am asking today’s administration to give Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles.
We can increase the production of Patriot missiles. This will help us. This will help the Middle East and any other country that the United States decides to help. Until we produce a European anti-ballistic system, we will need support from the United States.
Beginning in December 2025, Russia started to lose the initiative on the battlefield. In January 2026, I told our American partners: “I think there is a window for negotiations, because each month Russia will be losing more and more troops.” Now they can’t occupy more territory in a month than we liberate.
Therefore, I think that we need to find a diplomatic way – to sit down and talk – before next winter. But this depends on internal pressure on Putin from his society as well as American and European sanctions pressure on Russia.
Who could represent Europe in the negotiations? There is an E3 format – the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. I don’t know if this is the best format, but I think these countries could be negotiators from Europe. We also have reliable Nordic partners. Türkiye always wanted to be a mediator, and we had some successes in bringing back our POWs with their help.
Who will represent Europe after all? It’s up to Ukraine and Europe to decide. But no less important is that Russia must be ready for dialogue and European presence.
Lifting sanctions means helping Russian soldiers by helping the Russian defense industry.
After some sanctions were eased, we did not see any surprises like lower global prices for oil, gas, or diesel. Because the share of Russian oil accounts for only 5% of global supply. How could it make a difference?
So lifting sanctions is not about that. I think it’s about building dialogue with the Russians. But it’s not the right approach, because they don’t understand words or empathy and see it as a sign of weakness.
We need to be strong and impose more sanctions on them.
We wanted to conclude the first Drone Deal with the United States. The U.S. wanted to test all types of our drones. We agreed to the way they wanted to test, train with, and use our systems in the air, on land, and at sea. But we still don’t have a bilateral Drone Deal – a big framework document.
The Drone Deals we have are with some countries in the Middle East and Europe, and now we are preparing a big Drone Deal with the EU. I hope we will reach the same agreement with our American partners. I count on it.
American companies have advanced AI technologies we don’t have. In turn, we have many things they don’t have, due to our extensive experience on the battlefield.
I think this cooperation can be huge — the most powerful of its kind in the world. We need to negotiate, not just talk about it. Take the necessary steps and do it as quickly as possible. For this, we need President Trump to say yes.
: Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine