Ukraine’s defense needs and MoD reforms: Denys Shmyhal meets with the ambassadors of G7 countries

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, held talks with the ambassadors of the G7 countries.

He conveyed gratitude to the Group of Seven for their sustained and significant assistance from the very onset of the russian aggression.

Denys Shmyhal briefed the ambassadors on Ukraine’s key needs ahead of the winter season:

• Additional air defense systems and associated munitions;
• FPV drones for the front line and interceptors to counter Shahed drone attacks.

The Minister of Defence also proposed exploring the establishment of new joint projects in the defense industry.

The participants also discussed the reforms being implemented systematically by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. 

“We are establishing dedicated bodies within the Ministry to coordinate reforms. We are prioritizing transparency by introducing digital solutions and modern corporate governance standards across all components of the system. Of the 90 state-owned enterprises previously subordinate to the Ministry of Defence, 14 have already been transferred to the State Property Fund of Ukraine, and 8 to JSC UkrOboronProm,” stated Denys Shmyhal.

He briefed the partners on the advantages of the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace. The platform enables service members to independently order drones directly from manufacturers and receive them within days. The Ministry of Defence will continue to expand the platform by adding new manufacturers and types of weaponry in response to service members’ requests, the Minister of Defence emphasized.

Denys Shmyhal added that European and Euro-Atlantic integration remains a defining priority for Ukraine’s reform agenda. To this end, a dedicated unit for NATO and EU cooperation has been established, and a new, transparent format for interaction with partners has been introduced.