Ukraine’s new defence minister, Yevhenii Khmara, has promised to provide a clear plan to international partners on how Ukraine intends to fight Russia amid a significant military budget deficit of $27 billion. The Ukrainian government relies on foreign support, with the EU committing €90 billion in aid through 2027. Khmara aims to expedite part of the €45 billion loan scheduled for next year and seeks increased contributions from current and new allies.
He emphasized that Ukraine will outline specific tasks for its Defence Forces, needed projects, expected results, and timeframes. With the EU planning to allocate significant funds toward Ukraine’s defence, President Zelenskiy indicated that military spending had been higher than anticipated in the early part of the year.
Khmara, who took over from Mykhailo Fedorov, stated the importance of a unified vision among military leadership, particularly with new general Mykhailo Drapatyi. Ukraine aims to enhance its offensive against Russia and address significant manpower and air defence shortages amid ongoing Russian drone attacks. Khmara mentioned the need for effective strategies to protect lives and clear communication of military objectives to frontline commanders. He also noted the testing of interceptor systems against Russia’s drone threats.
With information from Reuters
