Evgeniy Khmara: Ukraine calls on partners to fund Ukrainian drone production and provide air defence missiles
Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Evgeniy Khmara participated in a meeting of EU defence ministers chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
In his remarks, Evgeniy Khmara highlighted Ukraine’s key needs: additional funding for Ukrainian drone production and the provision of air defence assets.
Drones and critical weaponry
Ukraine needs increased supplies of critical weaponry and approximately $27 billion in additional funding.
Ukraine calls on partners to allocate national budget funds for the procurement of Ukrainian drones, expedite the provision of the EU loan, and resume discussions on the use of frozen russian assets.
Additional resources are needed to counter russian air terror, russia’s mobilisation plans, and its efforts to scale up drone production.
Strengthening air defence before winter
The Minister of Defence also called on partners to take three decisions to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence before winter. These include providing Patriot missiles from existing stocks to counter ballistic missiles, air-to-air interceptors to counter cruise missiles, and missiles for man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS) to counter jet-powered drones.
Contributions to the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) and JUMPSTART mechanisms also remain important in helping meet the critical needs of Ukraine’s air defence.
War plan and win-win partnership
Evgeniy Khmara emphasised that Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, together with the military leadership, is expanding projects based on asymmetric solutions. A war plan based on a shared vision is being developed and will soon be presented to partners.
Ukraine is building a win-win model with its partners. Every euro invested in Ukraine’s defence is an investment in European security.
Evgeniy Khmara thanked the European Union for its important support for Ukraine.