Ukraine seeks faster Patriot missile deliveries, joint weapons production, and expanded drone cooperation with the United States.

Acting Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yevhenii Khmara held a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker to discuss further strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and expanding bilateral defense cooperation.

The meeting was also attended by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Ukraine Sandra Audkirk and Lieutenant General Curtis Buzzard, Commander of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) and the Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (SAG-U).

Yevhenii Khmara thanked the American side for its continued military support to Ukraine, its coordination of allied assistance, and the delivery of missiles for air defense systems under the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian side introduced the country’s new military leadership to the partners, including Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi and Chief of the General Staff Major General Ihor Skybiuk.

Khmara emphasized that he and Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi share a common vision for the future development of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, with a strong focus on achieving a technological edge, implementing asymmetric solutions, and increasing the effectiveness of destroying enemy forces.

The Ukrainian delegation also briefed its partners on the current situation on the battlefield and the steps Ukraine is taking to compel Russia to agree to a just and lasting peace. According to the Ministry of Defense, the U.S. side gave a positive assessment of the ongoing reforms and transformation within Ukraine’s Armed Forces, recognizing the progress made in strengthening the country’s military capabilities.


“We are doing everything possible to ensure that various types of unmanned aerial systems, ground robotic systems, and network-centric operations give us an advantage over the Russian military,” Yevhenii Khmara said.

At the same time, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense remains one of the country’s top priorities. Khmara urged the partners to accelerate the delivery of PAC-3 and PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor missiles, which are critical for countering Russian ballistic missile attacks.

The parties also discussed launching joint production and localizing the manufacture of missiles for the Patriot air defense system, in line with agreements reached between President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Another key area of cooperation focused on unmanned technologies. According to Yevhenii Khmara, Ukraine is prepared to share with the United States the unique expertise its Armed Forces have gained in conducting modern high-tech warfare while defending the country against Russia’s full-scale aggression.