Ukraine To Seek $20 Billion From Allies As Drone Campaign Slows Russian Advances

Ukraine plans to ask allied nations for another $20 billion in military support as Kyiv seeks to expand drone strikes on Russian logistics and preserve what officials view as a stronger battlefield position.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Ukraine is preparing to ask its allies for an additional $20 billion in military funding as Kyiv seeks to build on battlefield gains and sustain pressure on Russian forces through expanded drone operations, a Ukrainian defense source said Friday.

The request is expected to be made next Thursday at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the coalition of more than 50 nations that provides military and financial support to Kyiv. The group is also known as the Ramstein group.

Ukraine’s appeal comes as Russian advances have slowed this year and effectively stalled last month, according to the submitted information. Ukrainian officials attribute part of that shift to mid-range drone attacks that have disrupted Russian supplies and battlefield logistics, while longer-range strikes have targeted Russia’s energy sector.

Ukrainian commanders have said recent battlefield conditions have created an opportunity this year to push Moscow toward negotiations on terms more favorable to Kyiv.

Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s drone forces, told Reuters that Ukraine’s strategy is to force Russia to pull troops back from the front line by intensifying attacks on supply lines and logistics.

To carry out that plan, Brovdi said, Ukraine needs more funding.

“The production capabilities, the quality of drones, and the number of crews operating in Ukraine are enough to inflict devastating blows on the Russian economy, clog their logistics and kill personnel,” Brovdi said.

The additional funding would be used to keep Ukraine’s drone campaign moving at a pace officials believe could further strain Russia’s front-line operations and broader war economy. Ukrainian forces have increasingly relied on drones to hit supply routes, military equipment, personnel and energy infrastructure, seeking to raise the cost of Russia’s invasion while limiting Moscow’s ability to sustain offensive operations.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last month that Ukraine wants to move ahead with peace talks before winter, after negotiations with Russia stalled in recent months. Zelenskyy has said Kyiv wants to use the improvement in its strategic position to seek better terms at the negotiating table.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the idea that Moscow needs to return to talks under pressure. Last week, Putin said Russian forces were still advancing daily and that he saw no need for negotiations. He also said Russia’s economy was not at risk, though he acknowledged that Ukrainian strikes were causing harm.

At next week’s meeting, some allied countries will be asked to contribute between $2 billion and $6 billion each toward the $20 billion target, the Ukrainian defense source said. The contributions could come either as direct aid or as loans.

The request underscores Kyiv’s view that the coming months could be critical. Ukrainian officials are seeking to convert improved battlefield dynamics into sustained leverage, while Russia is arguing that its military campaign remains on track despite mounting pressure from Ukrainian drone attacks.