Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has urged NATO allies to expedite the delivery of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot air defence system, citing a recent surge in Russian ballistic missile attacks. The appeal came during a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday, February 12, 2026, marking Fedorov’s first appearance before the alliance since assuming his post.
Fedorov, a former digital transformation minister, outlined his vision for modernizing the Ukrainian armed forces to his NATO counterparts. He stated that Ukrainian forces have killed or wounded approximately 35,000 Russian soldiers in the last month, with a strategic goal of reaching 50,000. According to a high-ranking NATO official, this target is considered realistic. Since the start of the war, an estimated 1.3 million Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded, with over 400,000 casualties occurring in 2025 alone.
The need for enhanced air defence capabilities was underscored by a large-scale Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukraine the night before the NATO meeting. Fedorov emphasized the critical importance of receiving additional PAC-3 missiles to protect Ukraine’s infrastructure from ongoing Russian strikes. He also highlighted the importance of prioritizing the development of long-range drones to strike targets within Russia and improve the effectiveness of Ukraine’s defence systems against Russian Shahed drones.
Alongside the request for Patriot missile components, Fedorov also discussed the advancement of F-16 fighter jets and HIMARS systems as key priorities for continued cooperation with NATO. He expressed gratitude for the sustained support and effective coordination of defence assistance provided through initiatives like the PURL program, which delivers crucial air defence ammunition.
Several NATO member states pledged further support to Ukraine. British Defence Minister John Healey announced a novel financial aid package worth £500 million (approximately 6 billion Swedish krona), including additional air defence weaponry. Sweden’s Defence Minister Pål Jonson stated that Sweden would provide additional financial assistance to enable Ukraine to purchase urgently needed military equipment from the United States, as part of a broader support package contributed to by multiple countries.
Ukraine recently reversed a nearly four-year policy by granting export licenses to its arms manufacturers, despite the ongoing war. Rustem Umerov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, announced the move, noting that Ukraine’s annual defence production capacity exceeds $55 billion (€46 billion). Umerov stated that Ukraine’s capabilities in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electronic warfare, and reconnaissance already surpass domestic procurement needs, and that coordinated exports will attract investment and facilitate the development of new technologies for the Ukrainian army.
Despite Russia maintaining an estimated troop advantage of 700,000 soldiers at the front compared to Ukraine’s 400,000, a NATO official indicated that a collapse of the Ukrainian defence remains unlikely in the current year. But, Ukraine faces challenges in replenishing its forces, with reports indicating that two million Ukrainians are evading conscription and 200,000 have deserted their posts. The alliance is coordinating with Germany and the United Kingdom within the Ramstein format to accelerate decision-making and the delivery of assistance to Ukraine.
