Zelensky Orders Ambassadors to Secure Weapons, Advance Europe’s FREYJA Missile Shield

Ukrainian ambassadors will help advance Europe’s Freyja anti-ballistic defense program and negotiate new international drone agreements as Kyiv expands diplomatic efforts to strengthen the country’s defense President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday. In a meeting with Ukrainian ambassadors, Zelensky said diplomatic missions must prioritize defense cooperation.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “An ambassador must know how many air defense missiles the country where they serve has and how to ensure those missiles are in our launchers rather than sitting in warehouses,” he said. The project, known as FREYJA, is the centerpiece of the newly created Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, launched by Ukraine and several European countries to develop a joint missile defense capability. The system is designed to detect, track and intercept ballistic missiles, including threats similar to Russia’s Iskander and Kinzhal missiles. It is expected to complement existing Western systems such as the US-made Patriot and France-Italy’s SAMP/T, rather than replace them. Ukraine is expected to play a central role in the project by developing the interceptor missile – the key component needed to destroy incoming ballistic threats. Ukrainian defense company Fire Point is working on the FP-7.X interceptor missile, which is being designed specifically for air defense missions rather than ground strikes. Other Topics of Interest Russia Captured More Territory Than Ukraine Reclaimed in July, DeepState Reports Ukraine’s Defense Forces reduced the area of Russian-occupied territory, with 25 square kilometers attributed in May and 27 square kilometers in June. The project brings together Ukraine and European partners including Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Zelensky said every Ukrainian ambassador is expected to work on securing military assistance. “You must bring weapons. This must become a key performance indicator for our embassies,” he said. The president added that Ukrainian diplomats will also contribute to work on the Freya anti-ballistic defense project in Europe and help negotiate new agreements on drone cooperation with international partners. Other priorities for diplomats Beyond defense cooperation, Zelensky instructed ambassadors to strengthen efforts to protect Ukrainians abroad from xenophobia and to maintain regular visits to Ukraine. He also called for deeper cooperation with key international partners, including the United States, Japan, India, and China. Russia attacked Ukraine in Saturday’s early hours with 35 missiles and 185 drones, killing at least nine people and injuring 30 more. Due to a critical shortage of Patriot interceptors, Ukrainian air defenses were only able to shoot down one ballistic missile. The strikes affected seven districts in Kyiv, damaging 18 residential buildings, educational facilities, and the Lithuanian embassy. Attacks also targeted the Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Poltava regions. Zelensky urged international partners to expedite air defense deliveries to mitigate further casualties. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.