Ukraine has stabilized the front—next priorities are air defense and anti-ballistic systems, President says

Ukraine has stabilized the front and is making air defense its top priority, President Zelenskyy said in his 25 May address. Anti-ballistic systems are in global short supply because of Washington's war with Iran. Ukraine is trying to accelerate European production as US progress on the issue stalls.

How Ukraine stabilized the front: drones, mid-range strikes, long-range sanctions

Drones, mid-range strikes, and long-range deep strikes against Russian targets — what Kyiv calls "long-range sanctions" — stabilized the front in 2026, Zelenskyy said. He also credited the courage of Ukrainian forces and Ukraine's technological solutions. Ukraine's defensive results this year are better than before, he added. 

He cited the "whining of the so-called Russian 'war correspondents'" as confirmation of Ukrainian gains.

Iran war strained the global interceptor supply: pushing Europe to produce, as US progress stalls

Western stocks of interceptor missiles have thinned worldwide as the Iran war consumes them, Zelenskyy said. The US has used close to half its Patriot stockpile defending against Iranian ballistic missiles. Gulf states have also clamored for interceptors.

Zelenskyy held calls with the leaders of France, Norway, and Finland in recent days on air defense supply. He wants European partners to scale up anti-ballistic production after years of no progress with Washington on expanding US output.