MoD outlines defense priorities ahead of Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting

Results of talks with partners

The head of the defense ministry held talks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, UK Defense Secretary John Healey, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The parties agreed on key priorities for defense support to ensure that every decision more precisely reflects the real needs of the frontline and strengthens the Defense Forces in critical domains of the war.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said that a separate focus is being placed on strengthening air defense and anti-ballistic protection. He noted that during the latest massive attack alone, Russia used more than 30 ballistic missiles in one night. According to him, Russia is unable to achieve success on the battlefield, which is why it is increasing terror against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.

Key priorities for the next meeting

During the talks, three main priorities for strengthening the Ukrainian army were clearly outlined. These include additional contributions to the PURL mechanism and the procurement of PAC-3 missiles through JUMPSTART.

Another focus remains the supply of long-range artillery ammunition under the Czech initiative. The parties also paid special attention to funding Ukrainian drone production.

The Defense Minister separately emphasized that international support must be quickly translated into concrete results for soldiers on the frontline.

He noted that, alongside international mechanisms, it is critically important to maintain and scale bilateral support from partners to implement Ukraine’s defense strategy and strengthen the technological advantage of the Defense Forces.

Results of the previous Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting

The latest Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting was held on April 15, 2026. Following it, five partner countries confirmed contributions to the PURL program in support of the Defense Forces.

In particular, Norway announced more than $500 million for equipping Ukrainian brigades with drones, and an additional $150 million for logistical needs.

At the same time, the Netherlands will allocate more than €200 million for drone procurement for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the new meeting brought funding for PURL and strengthened air defence.

During the meeting, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov also spoke, highlighting the scale of enemy losses on the frontline and noting that Russia is losing hundreds of soldiers per square kilometer in attempts to advance.

Berlin also announced long-term support for Kyiv. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius detailed a multi-year air defence support package aimed at protecting Ukrainian airspace.