Ukraine has proposed to five leading European partners to transfer part of their existing missile stocks for air defense systems in exchange for future deliveries already stipulated by Ukrainian contracts. At the same time, Kyiv called on allies to secure financing for drone production for 2027.
This was reported on October 26 by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine following an address by the head of the department, Yevhen Khmara, to representatives of the defense ministries of the E5 countries — Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Poland, and Italy.
The meeting was also attended by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius, head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas, and NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska.
Ukraine's main proposal is the transfer of 10% of the partners' existing stocks of interceptor missiles, in particular for Patriot and IRIS-T systems.
According to Khmara, Ukraine has already concluded contracts for future deliveries of the relevant missiles, financed by a European Union loan. However, new munitions will arrive later, while Ukrainian cities need additional protection right now.
Therefore, Kyiv is proposing that European countries temporarily transfer some missiles from their own arsenals and subsequently receive in return new interceptors manufactured under existing Ukrainian contracts.
Such a mechanism would accelerate the strengthening of Ukrainian air defense without having to wait for the completion of production of new missiles.
At the same time, the Ministry of Defense has not yet reported the consent of European states to the proposed exchange or the specific volumes of future deliveries.
A separate request from Ukraine concerns man-portable air defense systems to combat Russian jet drones. Khmara called on partners to consider both the transfer of weapons from existing stocks and the financing of additional procurements.
The minister named the development of Ukrainian production of unmanned systems as the second strategic priority.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Ukrainian enterprises are capable of doubling drone output in 2027, but this requires securing financing for procurement and production contracts in advance.
Khmara proposed that European partners not limit themselves to purchasing ready-made Ukrainian drones, but develop joint production on the territory of other states.
According to him, locating additional production capacities abroad will allow increasing drone output for the Ukrainian army and simultaneously strengthen the defense capabilities of partner countries.
The minister stressed that decisions on financing next year must be made in advance, since the role of unmanned systems in combat operations continues to grow.
Recall that in September, during a meeting of EU defense ministers, Khmara already proposed to European allies to transfer Patriot missiles from their own stocks to Ukraine in exchange for subsequent deliveries. He then also reported on Ukraine's additional defense need of $27 billion, about a third of which is needed for pre-financing drone production at the beginning of 2027.
The current appeal specifies the proposal: Kyiv for the first time named a benchmark of 10% of partner interceptor stocks and separately proposed expanding joint production of Ukrainian drones outside the country.
