Defense Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal participated in a meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs in Brussels along with defense ministers from EU member states. Participants discussed joint actions to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine and the European space.
During the event, it was noted that the launch of the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP) opens new opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers in the European defense sector. The establishment of the Ukraine Support Instrument for 300 million euros is another important step towards deepening cooperation. There was also an emphasis on the expectation of practical implementation of the SAFE instrument. Denys Shmyhal invited partners to engage in new joint projects within the Build with Ukraine initiative.
“An important source of funding for Ukraine's defense should be a mechanism based on frozen Russian assets,” emphasized Denys Shmyhal.
Emphasis on the most urgent needs
The Defense Minister shared information about the capabilities of the Ukrainian defense industry and invited allies to join new projects under the Build with Ukraine initiative. It was also noted that to meet the needs of the Defense Forces, it is important to make new contributions to the PURL initiative, which allows Ukraine to obtain necessary American weapons.
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine is actively participating in international cooperation to strengthen the defense sector of the country and the region, emphasizing the need for adequate resources and support from European Union and US partners.