Zelenskyy Lifts Veil on Negotiations for Ukraine’s Freyja Missile Defense Project

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine’s Freyja missile defense project could become the foundation of a joint European anti-ballistic defense system. To advance the initiative, Ukraine is already cooperating with 10 countries and 12 defense companies.

According to 24 Kanal, the president made the statement during a meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors in Kyiv on August 3.

What Did Zelenskyy Say About the Freyja Talks?

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that one of the most serious consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as Iran’s military tactics, is that potential aggressors around the world have seen the devastating impact of ballistic missiles. As a result, he argued, the global ballistic missile threat will continue to grow, making stronger anti-ballistic defenses essential.

“Our Freya project can become a shared European system that provides integrated protection. Freyja will be quick to produce and proven in war,” Zelenskyy said.

According to the president, Ukraine is capable of manufacturing both the missile and the launcher on its own. However, building a complete anti-ballistic defense system requires cooperation with European countries and defense companies that possess radars, sensors, and other critical technologies.

Zelenskyy added that agreements have already been reached within the anti-ballistic coalition, which includes Ukraine, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with 12 defense manufacturers.

The anti-ballistic coalition and the Freyja project are open to additional participants that can make a meaningful contribution to strengthening Europe’s collective security, Zelenskyy stressed.

He also urged Ukrainian diplomats to make the implementation of the project one of their top priorities and to intensify negotiations with international partners on joint weapons production.

According to the president, countries that do not have their own anti-ballistic defense manufacturing capabilities can also join the coalition by helping strengthen the project in other ways, including by supplying interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

EMPR