President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the leadership of the state and the military command are working to strengthen the defense of Kharkiv region and improve the security situation in the region, which faces constant Russian attacks.

During a meeting with media representatives after negotiations with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in Kharkiv, the Head of State said that information from the military about the current situation in the region and the challenges associated with the proximity to the border with the aggressor state had been heard.

"We understand all the challenges. The Commander-in-Chief and the Minister of Defense know what needs to be done. This defense is being strengthened," he said.

Volodymyr Zelensky said that the partners are well aware of what Ukraine lacks to be even stronger. This applies not only to Kharkiv but also to populated areas on the border near the front line.

"We can talk for a long time about what can shoot down S-300 missiles. We understand what is lacking. And besides the fact that it is very hard, there are very high risks when you have less than a minute left, and a Russian missile hits a civilian target. Comprehensive protection is needed here," he said.

Additionally, as emphasized by the President, it is necessary not only to strengthen air defense systems for Kharkiv and the entire region but also to drive Russian forces further away from the city.

"Otherwise, fully protecting Kharkiv will be extremely hard, even if we strengthen it with modern air defense systems. We are looking for opportunities to strengthen Kharkiv's air defense anyway. This is our task for today," said the Head of State.