Ukraine has the opportunity to increase its own production of unmanned aerial vehicles, but this requires additional funding from partners.

This is due to the fact that the state budget does not have the appropriate funds.

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this during a briefing after the fourth summit of the Crimean Platform, Radio Svoboda reports.

“Of course, drones are very helpful. And it is already helping to save our people, our soldiers, first of all. But we need funds to increase our production. We have these opportunities,” Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine noted that he had raised this issue at the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in the Ramstein format held recently in Germany.

“Ukrainian plants are ready to double their production. Some private companies are even ready to produce five times more. They can, they are ready. We do not have enough money in the budget for this. That is why we ask our partners to help us with financing,” Zelensky said.

The President of Ukraine also added that drone production in Ukraine is “cheaper and we are faster.”

As previously reported, Ukrainian defense companies urged partner countries to purchase defense products that have already been manufactured but have not been contracted by the Ukrainian government.

The National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI) has stated that it had co-organized a diplomatic meeting as part of the Diplomatic Rounds.

Defense Attachés of the Embassies of France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Belgium in Ukraine were invited to the meeting.

In his address at the meeting, NAUDI Deputy Chairman Serhii Vysotsky emphasized the critical importance of direct investment in the Ukrainian defense industry, both for purchasing already produced but not contracted products and scaling up production.

The defense attachés confirmed that their governments are already considering these issues and promised a response soon.