Zelensky warned of the risk of drone problems in early 2027

About a third or slightly more of the $27 billion that Ukraine lacks for defense funding needs to be directed to purchasing drones for the first months of 2027. Orders for the drones must be made and paid for already in October-November.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a conversation with journalists on September 25.

According to him, this concerns drones that Ukrainian military personnel should receive in January, February, and March of next year. Manufacturers require advance funding so they can build up the necessary production volumes.

"If we do not order drones in October-November and do not pay, in January-February we will have serious problems", – the president explained.

The rest of the deficit funding, according to Zelensky, is needed for purchasing missiles, providing for the military, and partially for their monetary support.

Zelensky reported the defense budget deficit of $27 billion back in early September. He then stated in the Verkhovna Rada that Ukraine is asking partners to provide this sum through emergency external financing.

Now the president has clarified the structure of this need and emphasized the urgency of financing defense production: funds for drones are needed not at the beginning of next year, but already in the fall, because there is a production cycle between paying for orders and supplying finished products.

Zelensky also said that he had discussed the funding problem with the leadership of the European Union. According to him, the EU and the International Monetary Fund reacted positively to the need to find funds to cover the deficit.

Further work on the financial package is to be continued by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. Zelensky stated that they will hold a separate meeting in Ukraine or Brussels.

Earlier, the president also discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Ukraine's financial stability in 2026 and 2027. Kyiv hopes to combine already agreed European support mechanisms with additional funding for defense needs.

Based on materials: Novyny.LIVE, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine