Zelenskyy says Russia is trying to drive a wedge between Ukraine and its partners through drone incidents

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that Russia hopes to use incidents involving stray Ukrainian drones to damage relations between Ukraine and its close partners, particularly the Baltic states and Finland.

Source: Zelenskyy at a joint briefing of Nordic-Baltic Eight leaders in Tallinn, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy noted that both Ukraine and Russia use electronic warfare systems as part of their efforts to counter enemy drones, and that Russia is trying to derive additional benefits from this.

Quote: "They can change the direction [of Ukrainian drones] to divide us in Europe, to [put] pressure on Europe, Finland, our Baltic friends; and then to use it like rhetoric that 'Ukraine attacked'. And this is what they wanted from the very beginning – to divide us and to decrease the support of societies in European countries, the support of Ukraine."

Details: Zelenskyy added that the key step Ukraine can take in this situation is to deepen cooperation with partners through agreements on unmanned technologies, known as Drone Deals, including by sharing combat experience and expertise.

Quote: "We are ready to send to all these countries, where we see even potential risks, our expert groups to teach, to train and to defend such cases. This [is] really what we can do. The best way to stop Russia, to stop this war. But what we can do today – this."

Background:

• Earlier on 9 June, during Zelenskyy's meeting with Latvia's new prime minister, Kyiv and Riga signed an agreement on cooperation in the field of drone technologies.
• On 1 June, Lithuania's defence minister announced the arrival of Ukrainian air defence experts who will help strengthen the country's protection against stray drones.
• NATO fighter jets have shot down such drones over the Baltic states on two occasions – first over Estonia and later over Latvia. In recent months, dozens of drones have either crashed on their own or left the airspace of Ukraine's partner countries.

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