Europe’s security now depends on the speed and volume of arms and ammunition supplies to help Ukraine restore its territorial integrity and achieve a just peace.

This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday, April 24.

“The defeat of russia is a guarantee of a normal life for Europe. There is no more important task today. To achieve this, Ukraine needs more weapons and ammunition, and all this must be delivered as soon as possible," the Minister said.

Dmytro Kuleba stressed that the side with the best logistics and supplies had the best chance of winning the war. He called on his European counterparts to speed up deliveries and ensure Ukraine’s decisive advantage over russia on the battlefield.

"We have a common strategic goal: to secure peace in Europe for future generations. This goal now depends on the speed of your decisions and their implementation. Let's tear down all the paper walls. Let’s remove all procedural obstacles. Let’s speed up every process. Let’s eliminate all delays between the decision to deliver weapons and their arrival at the Ukrainian border,” he urged.

The Minister listed short, medium and long-term military needs. He called for more armoured vehicles, tanks and artillery systems, long-range artillery and ammunition to be provided to Ukraine as soon as possible; for Ukraine to strengthen its air and missile defences and integrate them with those of neighbouring EU countries; for training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s to begin immediately; and for Western fighter aircraft to be delivered to Ukraine.

In the medium term, the Minister called on his European counterparts to increase the capacity of logistics and repair hubs, to continue and expand training programmes for the Ukrainian military, and to cover the country’s ammunition needs by increasing production.

In the long-term perspective of several years, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister urged EU foreign ministers to focus on developing a common defence policy, of which Ukraine would be an integral part.

"Today marks exactly 14 months since the beginning of the biggest political and security earthquake in our lives and in the modern history of Europe. No one expected the scale of the aggression, or that Ukraine would withstand the blow, or that the EU would show such unity and strength. We have to prove putin wrong if he thinks he can wait out our strength, that we will be the first to "blink", that our resolve will be shaken in the face of his aggression. No, we will not retreat or get tired. We will not falter. He will falter," the Minister concluded.