President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is currently paying for the continuation of the war with losses of at least 30,000 soldiers killed or seriously wounded every month, and stressed that this number will increase as Ukraine improves its ability to repel Russian attacks.
The head of state made the remarks during the opening of a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format, taking place in Brussels.
“Right now, Russia is paying for continuing this war with losses of at least 30,000 soldiers every month on the front line—killed and seriously wounded. And this number will grow as we improve our capabilities to stop Russian attacks. All of our drone types are showing strong results, and our infantry and other units are fighting effectively and bravely. It is important to continue supporting this. Today, the Ukrainian army is effectively the main army in Europe capable of containing and resisting a full-scale aggression over a prolonged period. And after this war, it must remain so,” Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that the existence of a strong Ukrainian army should help prevent any future aggressive moves by Putin. Therefore, he urged partners to begin thinking now about how to secure the funding that Ukraine’s armed forces will require for years to come.
In this context, the Ukrainian president thanked the European Union for its €90 billion support package and for a number of bilateral agreements.
“I also ask you to develop the necessary financial instruments for the years ahead to ensure that the Ukrainian army remains sufficiently strong. This will significantly strengthen Europe’s defence and the security of all of you,” he said.
Zelenskyy stressed that only through long-term cooperation with Ukraine will Europe be able to maintain a strong military force capable of responding to any threat.
