On 23 August, whilst speaking to journalists, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a series of statements regarding the situation on the front line, Russia\u2019s missile capabilities, negotiations to end the war, air defence, mobilisation and the possibility of holding elections. According to him, Russia still has around 600 ballistic missiles, and Ukrainian forces recently struck an \u00abIskander\u00bb launcher near the border.<\/p>\n
According to Vladimir Zelensky<\/strong>, the Ukrainian side estimates Russia\u2019s current reserves at approximately 600 ballistic missiles<\/strong>. At the same time, the Russian military-industrial complex is capable of producing approximately twice that volume in a year.<\/p>\n The President also announced that the target had been successfully destroyed a Russian \u00abIskander\u00bb strategic missile system launcher near the Ukrainian border<\/strong>. According to him, Ukraine is effectively \u00abhunting down\u00bb the launch sites from which Russia is carrying out ballistic missile strikes.<\/p>\n Against the backdrop of the growing ballistic threat, ensuring Ukraine\u2019s security remains particularly critical missiles for the Patriot system<\/a>. Zelenskyy had previously emphasised that the number of interceptors available to Ukraine had fallen significantly this year, whilst Russia had stepped up its use of ballistic missiles.<\/p>\n The President stated that Ukraine had reached an agreement with Germany on 600 PAC-2 missiles<\/strong>, the delivery of which is scheduled for the coming years; however, he emphasised that Ukraine needs more ammunition for its air defence systems. The contract for 600 PAC-2 GEM-T missiles had been confirmed earlier; production is linked, in particular, to new production facilities in Germany.<\/p>\n The President also commented on the debate surrounding mobilisation reform. According to him, it is impossible for a single official to carry it out on their own \u2014 regardless of whether that official is the new Minister of Defence or the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.<\/p>\n \u00abIf they do not act together, it is impossible. If they work together, there could be positive developments,\u00bb said Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The President has expressed a similar view on previous occasions, emphasising that mobilisation issues<\/a>, the TCC and the organisation of the armed forces must be decided jointly by the military and political leadership.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy also commented on the situation surrounding the former defence minister Mikhail Fedorov<\/strong>. The President stated that he had offered him various arrangements for continuing to work within the government team on four occasions, but Fyodorov had turned down all the offers.<\/p>\n Zelenskyy had previously confirmed publicly that the posts offered to Fedorov included that of Deputy Prime Minister for Military Innovation. Fedorov himself stated that he would not accept any post other than that of Defence Minister.<\/p>\n The President has, for the first time, responded in detail to the renewed debate on holding elections during the war.<\/p>\n \u00abThe upcoming elections are a tsunami that will tear Ukraine apart. My strategy is to lead the country to the end of the war and preserve an independent and sovereign state,\u00bb said Zelenskyy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n According to him, if the country wishes to maintain internal unity during a large-scale war, it is dangerous to move towards an election campaign at this time.<\/p>\n The debate intensified after Fyodorov called on 18 August for a lawful and safe mechanism to be found holding of elections<\/a> even in the context of a protracted war. The President\u2019s Office subsequently stated that holding elections whilst regular missile and drone strikes were taking place was unrealistic.<\/p>\n Regarding negotiations with Russia, Zelenskyy stated that \u00abThe \u00bbwindow of opportunity\u2019 for ending the war could last from the G20 summit in the US until the end of summer 2027<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The President links this timeframe, in particular, to the US political calendar: after the summer of 2027, the presidential election campaign in the US will begin to gather momentum.<\/p>\nZelenskyy on mobilisation and the work of the military leadership<\/h2>\n
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\u00abElections these days are like a tsunami\u00bb<\/h2>\n
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Zelenskyy has identified a possible \u00abwindow of opportunity\u00bb for ending the war<\/h2>\n