Ukraine must be strong on the battlefield – Denys Shmyhal thanks partners for announcing new contributions to PURL initiative

Following the Ramstein meeting, Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal thanked international partners for new military aid packages and financial contributions.

The ‘Ramstein’ meeting format remains the key platform for coordinating international military assistance to Ukraine. During the meeting, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal underscored that resolute measures are required to intensify pressure on russia to bring its war to an end.

“Ukraine must be strong on the battlefield. I am grateful to our partners for announcing new contributions to the PURL package and to the countries that have decided to join the initiative. This enables us to procure weapons urgently needed to save lives,” he said in gratitude.

Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Norway, and Slovenia have announced their financial contributions to the PURL initiative.

The United Kingdom has also supplied 85,000 interceptor drones this year. Denys Shmyhal thanked partners for their active cooperation in this area. He reiterated that in 2026, Ukraine will be able to manufacture up to 20 million FPV, ISR, and other drone types if the necessary funding is provided.

Ukraine and Germany also signed a significant memorandum aimed at enhancing defense cooperation. These are tangible measures aimed at repelling russian aggression and building an effective arsenal of democracy.

In addition, a memorandum was signed on the Nordic-Baltic initiative to support training and equipment for a brigade in Poland. This initiative will enhance Ukraine’s defense potential and contribute to achieving a just and lasting peace.

During today’s discussion, the parties paid particular attention to Ukraine’s air defense needs. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal called on partners to provide a winter air defense package — a sufficient supply of interceptor missiles to protect civilians and critical infrastructure.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine also thanked all the countries that announced their commitment to continue providing the Ukrainian military with the necessary supplies. He expressed special gratitude to John Healey and Boris Pistorius for organizing the Ramstein meeting.