International, NATO, News

Ukraine: top priority – 2M Drones

Posted by Europe correspondent on

Brussels 15.10.2025 NATO HQ. Ukraine needs at least $120 billion for defense by 2026. The government plans to raise half of this amount from its partners, and use it for the weapons production. The Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal at a press conference at NATO HQ said:

“Russia spends approximately $150 billion annually to finance its military objectives. The economics of war demonstrates that if you spend less, you start paying with lives and territory. Therefore, we need to maintain this balance in the economics of war. At a minimum, we need to spend $120 billion by 2026. Next year is the minimum requirement.”

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

According to the Minister, Ukraine can only cover half of this amount; the government has to ask its partners for the remaining 50%.

“We can collect $60 billion in taxes, and we use every dollar of our taxes to cover these defense expenses. Therefore, we need to raise the remaining half together with our partners. These funds will be distributed between projects for European manufacturers – for the production of European types of weapons – and for Ukrainian manufacturers – for the production of Ukrainian drones and Ukrainian weapons.”

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The minister also expressed hope that the NATO Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative will continue to function, and that its financing could be achieved, in particular, through a loan deriving from the frozen Russian assets.

During the meeting in Brussels in the Rammstein format, Shmyhal have drawn atention of the Ukraine’s partners the importance of assisting the Armed Forces with drones to hold the frontline, calling it an “existential priority.”

“Three main priorities: FPV drones for the frontline and FPV ISR drones for holding the frontline. That’s priority number one. It’s an existential priority. The second priority is interceptor drones and missiles,” he said at a press conference following the Rammstein meeting.

Shmyhal recalled that Ukraine is asking its partners for funding for the production of interceptor drones. The request was heard, adn the British Defense Secretary John Healey announced joint production of interceptors with Ukraine.

Shmyhal also noted that Ukraine needs missiles to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Unknown's avatar

Published by Europe correspondent

journalist

Leave a comment