Kyiv, 28 May 2025 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Western allies to provide $30 billion (€27.6 billion) in financial assistance by the end of the year to expand Ukraine’s domestic weapons production and reinforce the country’s capacity to counter escalating Russian military attacks.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelenskyy described the figure as a “preliminary estimate” of Ukraine’s immediate defence requirements. “We are not yet working at full strength,” he said, referring to the country’s current arms manufacturing potential. The requested sum, he added, would allow Ukraine to reach that full capacity.
The appeal comes amid intensifying missile and drone strikes by Russian forces, with May witnessing some of the largest-scale attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. As the war enters its fourth year, Ukrainian officials report increasing strain on both military resources and international support.
Zelenskyy’s administration has in recent months shifted focus towards strengthening internal defence capabilities. This reorientation follows a decline in external aid and limited diplomatic progress, particularly from the United States under President Donald Trump. With no immediate end to hostilities in sight, Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine must be prepared to defend itself with fewer external guarantees.
Crucially, Zelenskyy argued that the main constraint was not production capacity, but finance. “There are many instruments to fund our military objectives,” he said, pointing in particular to the potential use of frozen Russian state assets as a financing mechanism.
The President reiterated his call for G7 nations to accelerate efforts in this area. In 2024, the G7 proposed a €50 billion ($56.5 billion) credit package for Ukraine, to be underwritten by proceeds from roughly $300 billion (€276 billion) in immobilised Russian sovereign assets. Zelenskyy urged G7 governments to unlock this funding more swiftly and decisively.
“These are the assets of the country that brought war to our land,” he stated. “They should serve the cause of Ukraine’s defence.”
In parallel, Zelenskyy presented concrete operational targets for the Ukrainian military, with a particular emphasis on unmanned aerial systems. He announced plans to expand the country’s drone fleet to 1,000 units and increase the number of daily drone strike operations against Russian targets from approximately 100 at present to between 300 and 500.
“This will show the Russians that there will be a response—if our partners help us,” he said. According to Zelenskyy, such an increase in activity is technically feasible, but hinges entirely on securing sufficient funding.
The broader context for this request is a marked decline in foreign military support compared to 2022 and 2023, when major financial and arms packages were provided by the United States, European Union, and other NATO partners. In 2025, shifting political landscapes—particularly in Washington—have delayed or downsized further assistance.
To offset these gaps, Ukraine has moved to establish or expand joint ventures with Western defence companies, with the aim of creating a more self-reliant industrial base. Officials in Kyiv have also positioned Ukraine as a potential future centre for European defence production, both for its own wartime needs and as part of the continent’s long-term strategic security framework.
However, Ukrainian authorities caution that without immediate investment, these initiatives will remain largely aspirational. Zelenskyy made clear that the $30 billion (€27.6 billion) request is not tied to new ambitions but to core survival and deterrence capabilities.
As the June G7 summit approaches, Kyiv is expected to lobby intensively for concrete commitments from its allies, particularly regarding the unlocking of Russian state assets. While there is broad consensus among G7 members in principle, diverging legal approaches and political hesitations continue to delay implementation.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s government is proceeding with contingency planning, including budget reallocations and accelerated production schedules where possible. Yet Zelenskyy’s message remains direct: domestic resilience requires external backing, and the window for securing such backing is narrowing.
“Only with adequate funding can we match our capabilities to the scale of the threat,” Zelenskyy said. “Time is critical.”
Read also:
EU Launches €150 Billion SAFE Instrument to Strengthen Defence Procurement and Industrial Capacity
