‘2024 must become year when Ukraine throws Russia out of its skies’: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said that next year must become the year when his country throws Russia out of its skies.

"Since 2022, Ukraine has liberated more than half of the land that Russia has occupied. In 2023, Ukraine expelled the Russian fleet from most of the Black Sea. 2024 must become the year when Ukraine throws Russia out of its skies," Zelensky said in a statement on X.

In his statement, Zelensky listed five reasons why strengthening Ukraine's air defense is the "best strategic security investment," the first of which, he said, "saves lives."

Zelensky further said the provision of air defense systems and their use in every major region and city means that more people can return to the country from abroad, adding that this will boost Ukraine's economy, allow it to reduce its budgetary gap, and reduce Kyiv's reliance on financial assistance from abroad.

"Third, the stronger our air defense, the greater Ukraine's success in the Black Sea, the more maritime exports, the better protection of freedom of navigation, and the greater stability," Zelensky said.

He said that this would allow Ukraine to deliver additional tons of food through a more secure maritime export corridor and counter the global food crisis.

Zelensky also said that each additional air defense system and missile saves resources for Ukraine that would otherwise be used to repair destroyed objects, critical infrastructure, energy systems, power grids, etc.

"Fifth, denying Russia the ability to terrorize Ukraine with missiles and drones will force the aggressor to abandon this tactic, which will help the overall effort to bring victory closer," he added.

He thanked those strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities, saying Kyiv's partners are making the "best strategic security investment" and are saving a significant amount of resources in the long run through the provision of such assistance.