Ukraine Calls on Global Partners to Invest in Technologies for Strengthening Defense and Sanctions Against Russia
Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiga, made an urgent appeal to the international community, urging them to actively support Ukrainian technological advancements and tighten sanctions against Russia, the aggressor state. In a recent message posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter), he emphasized the critical role of investments in cutting-edge Ukrainian developments, which have already significantly enhanced the country's defensive capabilities. According to Sybiga, Russia's war against Ukraine has unexpectedly accelerated technological innovation within the country, particularly in military technology. These innovations are not meant for offensive purposes but are crucial for national security and self-defense. Ukraine has achieved remarkable progress in deploying drones, artificial intelligence for combat systems, cybersecurity, digital management, and financial technologies. These advances are driven by dedicated Ukrainian scientists and engineers, and they hold great potential for global application. The minister called on international allies to increase investments in Ukrainian innovations and support large-scale manufacturing efforts. Such partnerships are mutually beneficial: those who assist Ukraine now will benefit from these innovations in the future. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening sanctions: every microchip blocked or technological resource cut off is a lifesaving measure and a strike against Russia’s military machinery. Sybiga stressed the need to reduce Russia’s oil revenues, halt its technological access, and intensify efforts to bridge the technological gap between democratic nations and authoritarian regimes. Furthermore, he pointed out that the European Union has allocated over 910 million euros to fund defense projects under the European Defense Fund, with Ukraine participating for the first time among nearly 300 applications. The Ukrainian project, Small UAS, aims to develop next-generation intelligent unmanned aerial systems. This marks Ukraine’s debut in a major European defense cooperation initiative, underlining the strategic importance of our innovation sector for regional security.