Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 27 May that Ukraine is fully mobilising its domestic industry to accelerate the production of drones, missiles, and other weapons, as Russian attacks continue at unprecedented scale.
Between 24 and 26 May, Russia launched over 600 drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine- with the third night marking the largest drone assault since the start of the full-scale invasion.
Zelensky’s comments followed a high-level meeting with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Anatolii Hnatov, and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
“The agenda included planning our response to Russian strikes, preparing for their threats, and taking preventative measures, which means increasing the production of our drones and missiles,” Zelensky said during his evening address.
He noted that hundreds of Ukrainian firms are already supporting defence efforts, with more expected to join. The government is now mobilising domestic entrepreneurial capacity and plans to sign new agreements with European partners, particularly focusing on unmanned systems and long-range capabilities.
While specific details remain classified, Zelensky stressed Ukraine must respond “symmetrically to all Russian threats,” adding that Moscow “must clearly feel the consequences.”
“Attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic systems- these are the key elements. We must manufacture all of them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has spent months attempting to mediate peace. Direct talks in Istanbul failed to produce a ceasefire, and in a 19 May phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin again rejected a proposed 30-day truce.
Although Trump has so far refrained from imposing new sanctions on Russia, he hinted on 25 May that the option remains open.
“He’s sending rockets into cities and killing people. I don’t like it at all,” Trump said of Putin. “We’re in the middle of talking and he’s still launching strikes on Kyiv.”
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