Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war will cost €155 billion in 2027, while Ukraine will need at least €70 billion in additional support from its partners to fund its defense, weapons and resilience. According to him, Ukraine already has the capacity to double or triple production of certain types of drones but lacks the funding to do so.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the remarks in an address to a meeting of the European Council on October 16.
“Next year, the war will cost 155 billion euros. And we need at least 70 billion euros more from you — for defense, for weapons and for our resilience. This is a realistic amount. And I ask you to find this support. It will help us deter Russia,” the president stressed.
Zelenskyy explained that Ukrainian drones play a major role in holding back the Russian army. Drones allow Ukraine’s Defense Forces to stop most Russian assaults on the front line, disrupt Russian supply routes and weaken the Russian economy.
At the same time, Ukraine has the capacity to significantly increase drone production but lacks sufficient funding.
“Right now, we could double or triple drone production, depending on the type. But we simply do not have enough money for this. That is the truth. Just imagine if we could put two or three times more pressure on Russia than we do today,” Zelenskyy said.
The president also thanked the European Union for supporting Ukraine throughout the years of the full-scale war.
“None of us wanted this war, absolutely none of us. But it is we who have to deal with its brutality and all the instability it has caused,” he said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the unity of European countries has been an important factor in restraining Russian aggression.
“If it were not for a determined European Union capable of making strong decisions, Putin would have gone much further by now,” the president said.
According to him, the EU did not fall apart, retreat or give in to fear when it came to defending the European way of life. Zelenskyy stressed that this was no less important than the courage of Ukrainians.
