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Ukraine and UK Advance Plan to Fund Air Defense and Drones Using Frozen Russian Assets
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Ukraine and the United Kingdom are working to finance Ukraine's defense using proceeds from frozen Russian assets, Ukraine's Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated in a post published on his X account on June 30.
Fedorov noted that he had met with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, to advance the joint effort.
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The minister urged London to unblock financing under the ERA program as quickly as possible and to direct proceeds from frozen Russian assets toward Ukraine's Defense Forces. The ERA mechanism is the G7 arrangement that uses earnings from the use of immobilized Russian state assets to support Kyiv.
Productive meeting with @RachelReevesMP. Urged to unlock frozen Russian assets via the ERA program to fund Ukraine’s top defense needs: air defense, long-range ammo, and our drones. We also discussed Ukraine's defense procurement reforms and tightening sanctions on Russia's… pic.twitter.com/Xt1YrMU8WD
— Mykhailo Fedorov (@FedorovMykhailo) June 30, 2026
He set out three priorities for partner funding. "For us, there are three unchanging priorities: air defense, long-range munitions and Ukrainian drones," Fedorov stated, adding that these areas should be financed first.
Fedorov also presented Ukraine's AIR–LAND–ECONOMY strategy and its overhaul of defense procurement. Kyiv is shifting to open, competitive tenders to use budget funds more efficiently and channel more money to the Defense Forces, he explained.
On air defense, Fedorov emphasized that ballistic missiles and guided aerial bombs remain among the gravest threats Ukraine faces. He noted the importance of continued missile deliveries under the PURL initiative, a NATO-coordinated effort through which allies fund weapons for Ukraine.
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The two officials also discussed tightening sanctions on Russia. Fedorov pointed to countering Moscow's "shadow fleet"—the network of vessels used to evade restrictions and finance the war—as one priority.
He thanked the United Kingdom for what he described as consistent support and leadership, and for its readiness to help across key areas of Ukraine's defense.
The deepening partnership comes as the United Kingdom has moved to reshape its own military around the realities exposed by the war, retooling force structure and procurement to reflect how modern combat is now being fought in Ukraine.
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