According to data from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, NATO countries have already promised it military assistance in the amount of $38 billion. (PLN 139 billion) for this year. Now, however, Kyiv wants to ask for another $20 billion. (PLN 73.3 billion) to consolidate the successes of recent months achieved thanks to the intensification of medium- and long-range drone attacks. This information was provided to POLITICO by a high-ranking representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
— Everyone sees that Russia is burning, and we want it to burn even more. However, we need funds for this, the official said. With a request to transfer $20 billion to Ukraine. (PLN 73.3 billion) will be addressed by its representatives to NATO countries on June 18 at the meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine at the Ramstein base in Germany.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and other Ukrainian officials have already raised this issue during meetings with representatives of Norway, Sweden, Germany and Canada. According to a representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Kiev will ask individual NATO countries to provide it – in the form of grants or loans – from $2 to $6 billion. (from PLN 7.3 to 22 billion), so as to raise a total of PLN 20 billion (PLN 73.3 billion).
Aid for Ukraine will be one of the key topics of the July summit of NATO leaders in Ankara, to which Volodymyr Zelensky is also invited as a guest.
The initiative is on the Ukrainian side – for now
Ukraine has begun to take the lead in hostilities, focusing in recent months on attacks targeting Russian air defense assets in occupied territories, supply routes, warehouses and communications lines.
It also managed to effectively take control of the Novorossiya highway, which supplies Crimea. As a result, the peninsula experienced a full-blown fuel crisis and food supply disruptions. This became possible thanks to the appearance in the Ukrainian Armed Forces of a large number of medium-range drones capable of striking from a distance of up to 200-300 km.
The destruction of Russian air defense assets also facilitated the flight of long-range drones, which are increasing the bombing of energy and military facilities in Russia itself.
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As a result, the number of attacks on Russian gasoline tankers increased by 40 percent in May. compared to April, and the number of destroyed air defense systems more than doubled – this was shown by a Bloomberg analysis based on data from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on website
“The enemy's rear is no longer a safe place. We are taking the initiative – using technology and the raw mathematics of war to paralyze their operations,” he said.
However, Ukraine does not have much time to cement this success. It must intensify its attacks until Russia regains its balance – because “the window of opportunity is gradually closing,” says the POLITICO source. — Russia acts quickly and innovatively. If we give her time to readjust [do sytuacji]we may lose the only real chance to end this war through real negotiations, he says. He believes that if Russia develops its own medium-range drones, “it will be a disaster.”
Meanwhile, the anti-Kremlin Wola channel on Telegram reports that Russia “has started to catch up in the 'drone race'.” According to reports coming from the front, its “Mołnia” devices began to deliver hits from a distance of up to 70 km in June. So far, Russian drones have mainly flown at a distance of 30 km. The author warns that these drones are resistant to electronic warfare, which may make them particularly dangerous.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
