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Zelenskyy: All European capitals could become targets for Russian ballistic missiles
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Conflict & Security

Zelenskyy: All European capitals could become targets for Russian ballistic missiles

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia is expanding its ballistic missile capabilities, potentially enabling strikes up to 5,000 kilometers.
  • He urged Europe to accelerate the development of its own anti-ballistic missile system, proposing a collaborative project dubbed "anti-ballistic LEGO."
  • The proposed system, FREYJA, aims to be a cheaper, mass-producible alternative to the U.S. Patriot system, with initial operations possible by 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a stark warning that Russia's growing ballistic missile arsenal could soon threaten virtually all European capitals. Speaking ahead of a trip to Paris, Zelenskyy told BFMTV that Russia's ballistic missile range is expanding, potentially reaching up to 5,000 kilometers, making the entire continent vulnerable.

The truth is that Russia has very powerful ballistic missiles and can launch them up to 5,000 kilometers now or in the near future. It is only a matter of time.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy explaining the growing threat of Russian ballistic missiles.

"It is only a matter of time," Zelenskyy stated, emphasizing the urgent need for Europe to develop its own robust anti-missile defense system. He envisioned a collaborative effort, likening it to "anti-ballistic LEGO," where multiple nations contribute different components. He suggested a system similar to the U.S. Patriot but significantly more affordable and capable of mass production.

Zelenskyy revealed that eight countries, including France, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and Norway, are participating in the project. If successful, the initial systems could be operational as early as 2026. This initiative, officially launched on July 13 as the FREYJA program, aims to create an inexpensive, mass-producible defense system within 12 months to protect Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

Therefore, Europe needs its own anti-missile defense system. It should be similar to Patriot, but much cheaper.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposing a new European defense initiative.

He also noted that Russia's sole remaining military advantage is its ability to strike Ukrainian civilians with ballistic missiles, a capability he believes Ukraine has countered through strengthening its battlefield and air defense capabilities. Zelenskyy highlighted that international leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have acknowledged Ukraine's growing prowess. The FREYJA project is driven by a critical gap in air defense, exacerbated by Russia's increasing use of ballistic missiles alongside drone attacks, even as the U.S. ramps up Patriot production.

This is the only advantage it has left. Nothing else.

— Volodymyr ZelenskyyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing Russia's diminishing military advantages.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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