Ukraine Steps Up Defense Coordination With Lithuania and G7 to Speed Joint Production and Winter Deliveries

Overview

• President Volodymyr Zelensky met Lithuania’s new defense minister Robertas Kaunas in Kyiv to review urgent needs and prospects for joint defense manufacturing.
• Lithuania reaffirmed long-term support with a 0.25% of GDP pledge, participation in PURL and SAFE, and funding for Patriot air-defense purchases, including PAC-3 missiles.
• Kyiv and Vilnius flagged joint production opportunities focused on maritime drones, radar systems, and anti-personnel mines.
• Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal briefed G7 ambassadors on winter requirements such as additional air-defense systems and ammunition, FPV drones, and interceptors for Shahed-type drones, while proposing new joint industry projects.
• The Ministry of Defence detailed reform steps including new coordination units, transfers of state enterprises to the State Property Fund and UkrOboronProm, and expansion of the DOT-Chain Defence marketplace that delivers drones to units within days.