Key facts
- Ukrainian defense company Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh stated Germany can rely on their deep-strike capabilities for deterrence.
- The Freyja initiative, a collaborative missile defense system, was signed by nine European countries and Ukraine in Paris.
- Fire Point is in discussions with German companies and the government for industrial cooperation to produce weapons.
- Terekh suggested that the Flamingo cruise missile, developed by Fire Point, could address Europe's deep-strike gap and provide deterrence.
- She emphasized that Freyja is a defensive system.
Iryna Terekh, CEO of Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, has asserted that Germany can depend on Ukraine for deep-strike deterrence capabilities. She highlighted the significance of the Freyja initiative, a collaborative missile defense system that combines Ukrainian combat experience with European technology and industry, recently signed by nine European countries and Ukraine in Paris.
Terekh expressed amazement at the progress of Freyja, which began as a concept discussed on a napkin, and is now a formal agreement. She stressed the importance of tangible security guarantees, stating that "security guarantees are written in steel and not in ink," positioning it as more critical than the Budapest Memorandum. Terekh believes that with leadership support, bureaucratic obstacles can be overcome more swiftly to focus on technological development.
Addressing the argument that Europe can afford to increase weapons production only after a conflict begins, Terekh noted that proximity to a threat can lead to complacency. She pointed out the short travel times of ballistic missiles to European capitals, underscoring the need for a resilient defense ecosystem that outlives political cycles. The shortages of existing missile stocks, such as Patriot interceptors, also played a significant role in the development of Freyja.
Regarding cooperation with Germany, Terekh confirmed ongoing negotiations with German companies and the government for industrial cooperation, aiming to leverage Ukrainian experience for mass-produced weapons. She acknowledged the historical context for Germany, where war is viewed as toxic, but emphasized that Freyja is a defensive system, making it easier to adopt. Terekh suggested that the Flamingo cruise missile, if produced in Germany, could address Europe's "deep strike gap" and serve as a crucial deterrent.