Financial support from the European Union should be flexible and directed, in particular, toward the development of UAV production in Ukraine, as well as advanced air defense systems.
This was emphasized by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration, Serhiy Boyev, during a meeting with a European Parliament delegation led by the Chair of the Committee on Defense and Security, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann.
“Today, over 85% of battlefield strikes are carried out by Ukrainian unmanned systems. Directing financial support to increase the production of Ukrainian drones is a prerequisite for achieving results on the front,” Boyev stressed. He highlighted the need to ensure flexibility in the use of resources within the EU’s €90 billion financial support package for Ukraine.
Ukraine has the capacity to multiply drone production given adequate funding. Boyev noted that producing drones in Ukraine is roughly three times cheaper than in EU countries. At the same time, Ukraine is working on mechanisms that allow its combat experience and innovations to strengthen European partners.
Another key point of the discussion was the need to further limit the resources of the aggressor state. Sanctions and political pressure directly reduce Russia’s ability to finance the war, scale up weapons production, and mobilize human resources.
“It is critically important to increase pressure on the ‘shadow fleet’ and other sources of revenue in the Russian economy,” Boyev said.
The Deputy Minister of Defense also thanked the European Union for its consistent support and solidarity with Ukraine.
