Zelenskyy appeals for $27 billion to sustain Ukraine's drone and missile production

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued an urgent appeal for $27 billion in international funding to address a critical shortfall in military procurement. Speaking on September 25, 2026, the President warned that without these funds, Ukraine risks exhausting its supply of drones and missiles by early 2027.

Zelenskyy specified that approximately one-third of the required amount is needed immediately to secure orders for drones during the months of January, February, and March. He stressed that orders must be placed and paid for during October and November to avoid severe operational difficulties early next year. To facilitate this, he has called on the European Commission to expedite the release of the second tranche of a $90 billion loan, emphasizing that Ukraine cannot sustain its defense efforts alone and requires significant investment in domestic weapons manufacturing.

The European Union is currently evaluating the request as part of broader discussions regarding future security assistance. Zelenskyy noted that both the European Union and the International Monetary Fund are aware of the financial pressure, as Ukraine seeks to balance its defense requirements with its broader fiscal deficit.