Kyiv is negotiating with representatives of the British arms company BAE Systems regarding the opening of a factory in Ukraine for the production and repair of various weapons, from tanks to artillery, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday evening. He also reported that during the day he discussed with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz the issue of air defense of Ukraine, as well as the coordination of positions before important international events, where Berlin’s voice can be “decisive”.

“I spoke with representatives of the powerful British defense company BAE Systems. This is a truly large-scale manufacturer of weapons – weapons that we need now and will need in the future to ensure the security of our country and the entire region,” Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, reports Novosti. ro.

“We are working to create an appropriate base for production and repair in Ukraine. We are talking about a wide range of weapons: from tanks to artillery. We will offer Ukraine, and therefore all of Europe, this new power base,” the Ukrainian president told his compatriots.

Zelenskyi emphasized that in negotiations with international partners, Ukraine aims, in particular, to strengthen air defense. “Russian terror must be defeated every day and every night, in every region of Ukraine, in the skies of every Ukrainian city and village. When every attack by Russian terrorists ends in failure for the terrorists, their defeats will become the source of our security – long-term security,” the Kyiv leader said.

About the discussion with Olaf Scholz: “His personal determination in many ways becomes the determination of the whole of Europe”

The President of Ukraine said that he also spoke about air defense with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “I thanked him for the air defense systems already provided to Ukraine, that is, for the lives of our people, which Germany had already saved. We discussed the defense situation in general and our cooperation in the field of security,” Zelenskyy explained at the end of the day, when Russia again massively attacked Kyiv with missiles and drones, for the third day in a row.

“Before the important international events that will take place very soon, we are coming to joint positions and joint decisions,” Zelenskyy said, most likely referring to the EU and NATO summits this summer, from which Ukraine expects favorable decisions for its Euro-Atlantic ambitions. integration. “I thank Olaf, Mr. Chancellor, for his personal determination, which in many ways becomes the determination of the whole of Europe,” Zelensky said, emphasizing Germany’s role as the “engine” of Europe.

The president also told Ukrainians that it is very important to take into account reports of raids, and not to look at them superficially. He also tasked local authorities with making bomb shelters as accessible as possible. “People should understand when and how the number and availability of shelters will increase. This is the responsibility of specific officials and specific responsibility,” Zelenskyi said.

“We are constantly approaching this result – to provide our soldiers with modern combat aircraft”

The Kyiv leader said that during the day he also met with a delegation of one of the most important analytical centers in the world, the American Atlantic Council, where he lobbied for the receipt of Western aircraft. “It was a good and useful conversation to defend our common values, the values ​​of all those who value freedom. I briefed the representatives of the Atlantic Council on our basic defense needs at this time, this time of confrontation. We discussed steps to create a new aviation coalition. We are constantly approaching this result – to provide our soldiers with modern combat aircraft. And I thank all the people of the United States, every one of them in the political community who support us, and I personally thank President Biden and both parties in Congress,” Zelenskyy said, trying to maintain bipartisan support for Ukraine.

“Now in Ukraine, on our land, in our sky, it is being decided whether freedom and civilization – world leadership – will be preserved in this century. It depends on us, together with America, together with Europe, together with all our allies and partners. I thank everyone in the world who helps us! And, of course, today, as always, I thank our soldiers. To all those who are now fighting for Ukraine,” Zelensky concluded.

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