Umerov: Ukraine received verbal agreement to finance missile program from partners

Ukraine has received a verbal agreement from its Western partners to fund the missile program developed by the Ministry of Defense. Rustem Umierov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, announced this in an interview with the Rada TV channel. According to him, Western partners have already verbally agreed to fund it, as this issue is one of the highest priorities.

Currently, the Ministry of Defense has assumed full responsibility for the development of products under this program to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with long-range weapons.

Testing of the rocket engine for the Hrim-2 operational-tactical missile system. Photo credits: Militarnyi

"Since this year, the Ministry of Defense has been taking the lead in this issue, we have developed a missile program," Umierov said. The development of missile systems is a strategically important area for Ukraine, as products of this type should be independent, with minimal use of foreign components.

"It is quite powerful, we have already exchanged with our partners and we are waiting to see how much of the capacity we can build missiles and drones they will support. But they have already given us a verbal agreement that they will finance this," the Defense Minister added. In July 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the media that Ukraine had tested an Ukrainian-made ballistic missile.

Hrim-2 tactical ballistic missile.

2018. Photo credits: TSN

Additionally, the Minister reported that Ukraine's missile program will closely cooperate with the drone program being implemented in Ukraine. Militarnyi previously reported that Ukraine will increase funding for the missile program to increase the production of Ukrainian-made missiles.

The Minister of Defense, the Vice Prime Minister for Innovation, and the Minister for Strategic Industries outlined the current needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and the dynamics of drone and missile production by the Ukrainian defense industry.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky shared that Ukraine is approaching the use of Ukrainian-made missiles.