Ukraine is urging its Western partners to step up military funding, arguing that additional resources are urgently needed to sustain recent battlefield momentum and prevent Russia from adapting to evolving Ukrainian tactics. Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told POLITICO that Kyiv sees a limited window of opportunity to deepen its gains through expanded investment in drones, missiles, and military innovation.
According to Fedorov, Ukraine believes it has regained operational initiative by targeting Russian forces, logistics networks, and energy infrastructure. However, he warned that this advantage could be temporary without sustained external support. “We need the next level of aid to be able to finish the job,” he said, adding that timely financing could allow Ukraine to stay ahead in what he described as a rapidly changing technological war. “If we have enough resources to launch a new cycle of war innovations before Russia adapts to the current one, we will get another six months.”
The minister, who took office in January as Ukraine’s fourth defense chief since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, has overseen a restructuring of the defense sector with a strong focus on rapid innovation. His approach has emphasized scaling up drone production, improving missile capabilities, and modernizing procurement systems while also addressing weaknesses in recruitment and air defense.
