Ukraine must 'accelerate creation of ballistic systems,' Zelensky says
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine needs to "accelerate the creation of Ukrainian ballistic systems as much as possible," according to his evening address published on May 2.
Zelensky made the statement following his meeting with the Commander-in-Chief, where he was briefed on military supplies, staffing, and Ukraine's missile program, including domestic development and production.
"Our long-range capabilities are a clear and effective guarantee of Ukraine's security," Zelensky said.
Long-range missiles have been a critical component of Ukraine's defense against Russia's full-scale invasion. However, since the start of the invasion, Western partners have been reluctant and slow to provide Ukraine with long-range missiles out of a fear of escalation.
Kyiv first started receiving U.S. long-range missiles, specifically the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), in the fall of 2023 – more than a year after Russia launched its invasion. At the time, Ukraine was only permitted to deploy these missiles against targets in occupied Ukrainian territory.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of ATACMS in November 2024, allowing Kyiv to launch them against military targets in Russia.
Ukraine has also received the British Storm Shadow and the French SCALP missiles. However, earlier this year, Ukraine reportedly ran out of its supply of ATACMS.
While Ukraine's drone production industry has been successful – providing more than 95% of used on the front line – the missile development program has been slower, with some notable exceptions. Last year, Ukraine successfully tested its first domestically-made ballistic missile and produced 100 .
The combination of Western reluctance and restrictions, as well as limited supply of long-range missiles, has underscored Ukraine's need to develop its own domestic missile program.
Read also: Could Ukraine have stopped Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014?
We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
44 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Israeli-backed aid sites in Gaza close temporarily after deadly shootings
Advertisement Also on Wednesday, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate and permanent cease-fire in Gaza because it was not linked to the release of hostages. The resolution before the UN's most powerful body also did not condemn Hamas' deadly attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war, or say the militant group must disarm and withdraw from Gaza — two other US demands. The 14 other members of the 15-nation council voted in favor of the resolution, which described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as 'catastrophic' and called on Israel to lift all restrictions on the delivery of aid to the 2.1 million Palestinians in the territory. The pause in military operations in Gaza came after days in which dozens of Palestinians trying to reach one of the foundation's sites in the southern Gaza city of Rafah were killed after coming under fire, according to local health workers. Advertisement The circumstances of the episodes remain contested. On Tuesday, the Red Cross and Gaza health officials said that at least 27 people had been killed in the second large-scale deadly shooting in recent days. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said a number of civilians had been injured and killed in an area outside the site but did not provide a number. According to the Red Cross, 'The majority of cases suffered gunshot wounds. Again, all responsive patients said they were trying to reach an assistance distribution site.' The Israeli military said its forces had opened fire roughly a third of a mile from the distribution site after they identified 'several suspects moving toward them' and away from the Israeli-designated access route. After they failed to respond to warning shots, troops fired 'near a few individual suspects,' the military said. Brigadier General Effie Defrin, the Israeli military's chief spokesperson, later suggested that the casualty numbers from the incident were inflated but did not provide an alternate toll. He said the Israeli military was investigating. On Sunday, more than 20 Palestinians were killed near an aid site, according to Gaza health officials. An Israeli military official said troops had fired 'warning shots' toward Palestinians roughly a kilometer away, although the Israeli military formally denied shooting civilians 'near or within' the site. But the deadly episodes have further ensnarled the Israeli-backed aid effort, which has come under severe international criticism. Hamish Falconer, a British Foreign Office minister responsible for the Middle East, called for an 'immediate and independent investigation' into the mass casualty events and criticized the new aid system. 'Israel's newly introduced measures for aid delivery are inhumane, foster desperation, and endanger civilians,' he said in Parliament. Advertisement Hunger has become widespread in Gaza after an 80-day Israeli blockade on food, fuel, medicine, and other supplies. The Israeli government began relaxing those restrictions last month and allowed some aid to enter the enclave, much of which has been destroyed during the war. Israel has said that the new aid distribution system, with sites in areas secured by Israeli troops and overseen mainly by US contractors, would prevent the supplies from falling into the hands of Hamas. The United Nations, however, says there is no evidence that Hamas systematically diverted international aid under the previous UN-coordinated distribution framework. The UN and other aid groups have boycotted the initiative and have warned that it could endanger Palestinian civilians by forcing them to travel on foot through a war zone and past Israeli lines. The rollout of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has been chaotic. Its executive director resigned hours before the initiative was set to begin operations, and Palestinians pushed through fences at one of the sites last week, prompting Israeli troops to fire warning shots. Huge crowds of hungry Palestinians have been arriving early each morning at the aid sites, often walking for miles in the predawn darkness. Palestinian witnesses have described a violent scramble for whatever boxes of food are available. The foundation has pushed back against much of the criticism, arguing that Hamas is trying to undermine the initiative. In a statement Tuesday, the foundation said more than 100,000 boxes of food had been allocated at the sites. Advertisement
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Putin 'very strongly' vowed revenge against Ukraine for drone strike on airbases, Donald Trump says
Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin "very stongly" told him he "will have to respond" to Ukraine's drone strikes on Russia's airfields. More than a hundred Ukrainian drones were deployed inside over the weekend, destroying more than 40 warplanes in an attack Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "will undoubtedly be in history books". Posting on Truth Social on Wednesday, the US president said that he discussed the attack with Mr Putin during an hour and 15 minute long phone call. "It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," he wrote after their first call since 19 May. "President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields." Read our Q&A: The Russian president's foreign affairs adviser added Mr Trump told Mr Putin that the US did not have advance notice of the operation. An aide to Mr Putin also told reporters that they vowed to stay in constant contact, with the Russian president telling Mr Trump that recent talks between Russian and officials in Istanbul were useful. The US president added that he and Mr Putin also discussed "the fact that time is running out on decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly," before accusing Tehran of "slow-walking their decision". Russia 'giving the finger' - Zelenskyy Later, Mr Zelenskyy, in a social media post, called for more pressure on Russia to end the war, saying: "Many have spoken with Russia at various levels. "But none of these talks have brought a reliable peace, or even stopped the war. Unfortunately, Putin feels impunity." The Ukrainian leader added that "with every new strike, with every delay of diplomacy, Russia is giving the finger to the entire world - to all those who still hesitate to increase pressure on it". 👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈 It comes after Russia's foreign minister claimed that Mr Zelenskyy refused a proposal for a pause lasting two to three days to pick up the bodies of dead servicemen. Earlier this week, the Ukrainian president said the proposal was not "a real ceasefire". He added: "I think they're idiots because a ceasefire is meant to prevent people from being killed."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Bold rewiring' of economy needed as Tories seek to regain trust, Stride says
The shadow chancellor will say a 'bold rewiring' of the economy is needed as part of Tory efforts to 'regain trust' following the fallout from Liz Truss' mini-budget. In a speech on Thursday, Mel Stride is expected to promise the Conservatives will 'never again' make offers they cannot afford as the party seeks to forge a 'credible' financial plan for the future. Taking aim at both Labour and Reform UK, the Tory frontbencher will accuse Chancellor Rachel Reeves of 'fiddling the figures' by changing her definition of national debt, and warn that 'populism is not the answer'. Addressing the legacy of the 2022 mini-budget under Ms Truss's premiership, which spooked the financial markets and led to a spike in mortgage rates, Mr Stride will say: 'For a few weeks, we put at risk the very stability which Conservatives had always said must be carefully protected. 'The credibility of the UK's economic framework was undermined by spending billions on subsidising energy bills and tax cuts, with no proper plan for how this would be paid for.' In a furious response, Ms Truss has accused Mr Stride of having 'kowtowed to the failed Treasury orthodoxy' and being 'set on undermining my plan for growth'. The shadow chancellor will claim that the Tories acted swiftly to restore stability, but the party's credibility would take longer to recover. 'That will take time, and it also requires contrition,' he is expected to say. 'So let me be clear: never again will the Conservative Party undermine fiscal credibility by making promises we cannot afford.' Ahead of the Chancellor's spending review next week, her opposite number will accuse her of 'abandoning' financial responsibility. Ms Reeves has two self-imposed 'fiscal rules' – funding day-to-day spending through taxation and for debt, measured by the benchmark of 'public sector net financial liabilities' (PSNFL), to be falling as a share of GDP. She has insisted these constraints are 'non-negotiable' amid wrangles with Cabinet colleagues over departmental budgets ahead of next week's announcement. Mr Stride will say: 'At the spending review next week, we can expect her to trumpet all of the additional projects and programmes she is funding – without mentioning the fact it is all being paid for from borrowing.' Attacking Nigel Farage's Reform party after its gains in the local elections last month, the shadow chancellor will say: 'Take Reform. Their economic prescription is pure populism. It doubles down on the 'magic money tree' we thought had been banished with Jeremy Corbyn.' During the speech in central London, he will say the two 'core priorities' for the party will be 'stability and fiscal responsibility', with control of spending and reform of welfare and public services. He will add: 'And a bold rewiring of the British economy – to unleash growth, productivity, and opportunity across the country.' Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that the comeback she anticipates for the party will take time as it seeks to avoid 'rushing' into policy commitments. Mr Stride will insist modern politics requires more 'thoughtfulness', with the Conservatives planning to spend the next four years forging a 'credible' plan to return to government. 'We will need to take our time if we are to forge a credible plan that delivers for the people of our country,' he will say. 'Over the next four years, our party will do just that.' Since being ejected from Number 10 after just 49 days in office, Ms Truss has conceded her plan to quickly abolish the 45p top rate of tax went too far, but otherwise defended her failed bid to boost growth. Responding to the Tory announcement on Thursday, she said: 'Mel Stride was one of the Conservative MPs who kowtowed to the failed Treasury orthodoxy and was set on undermining my Plan for Growth from the moment I beat his chosen candidate for the party leadership. 'Even when judged by the OBR's flawed calculations, my plans were chalked up as costing less than the spending spree Rishi Sunak pursued as Chancellor during the pandemic – yet Mel Stride never took him to task over any of that. 'And why has he singularly failed to examine the role played by the Bank of England in causing the LDI crisis that sent gilt rates spiralling? Why has he never asked the pertinent questions of the Governor, despite the Bank since admitting that two-thirds of the gilt spike was down to them? 'My plan to turbocharge the economy and get Britain growing again provided the only pathway for the Conservatives to avoid a catastrophic defeat at the election.' She added: 'Until Mel Stride admits the economic failings of the last Conservative Government, the British public will not trust the party with the reins of power again.' Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice said: 'We'll take no lectures on economics from a party that more than doubled the national debt, raised taxes and government spending to 70-year highs and shrank economic growth to 70-year lows. 'Meanwhile, we unearth Tory-run councils wasting £30 million on a bridge to nowhere. They can never be trusted again.' The Liberal Democrats accused the Conservatives of attacking Mr Farage's party for 'the same fantasy economics' they had pursued 'while secretly plotting a pact with them' as they branded the speech 'absurd'. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper MP said: 'It's insulting that the Conservatives think a few warm words will fool people into forgiving them for all the damage they did to the economy and people's livelihoods. 'Families are still reeling from the Conservatives' lockdown law-breaking and still paying the price after their mini budget sent mortgages spiralling. 'Now the Conservatives have the cheek to criticise Reform UK for the same fantasy economics while secretly plotting a pact with them: it's absurd.'
