Denys Shmyhal called for new contributions to the PURL initiative at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting

Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal took part in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels with the participation of defense ministers of EU member states and thanked EU countries for decisions that reinforce Ukraine's defense.

The discussion focused on joint actions to strengthen the resilience of Ukraine and Europe as a whole.

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, the launch of the European Defense Industry Program (EDIP) opens up new opportunities for integrating Ukrainian manufacturers into the European defense landscape.

“The creation of the Ukraine Support Instrument in the amount of EUR 300 million is another important step towards deepening our cooperation. We also look forward to the practical implementation of the SAFE instrument,” he stressed.

While delivering his speech, Denys Shmyhal talked about the capabilities of Ukraine's defense industry and invited partners to join new projects under the Build with Ukraine initiative.

The Minister noted that a mechanism based on seized russian assets should become an important source of funding for Ukraine's defense.

Also, he told the allies about the most urgent needs of Ukrainian soldiers, especially in air defense. The Minister of Defense stressed that to meet the needs of the Defense Forces, it's essential to make new contributions to the PURL initiative, which enables Ukraine to get the American weapons it needs.

“I thank the EU countries for their decisions that strengthen our defense. Together, we can ensure a just and lasting peace on our continent,” said Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal.