Ukraine is planning to strengthen its defense through a multibillion-dollar arms program, funded largely by European countries, as U.S. aid shows signs of waning and Western security guarantees remain uncertain. Kyiv is investing in the development of long-range domestic missiles and in the creation of a new NATO-backed procurement mechanism, aiming to turn its military into a security pillar capable of deterring future Russian attacks.

According to the New York Times, the Ukrainian government is not limiting itself to reinforcing its armed forces during the ongoing conflict but seeks to build a powerful postwar military force that would form the backbone of any peace settlement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said that “Ukraine must become a steel hedgehog, impossible to push back against potential invaders.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed a similar view, stressing that a strong Ukrainian army, combined with external guarantees, is essential for the country’s protection.

A central part of these efforts is the NATO-supported procurement mechanism, which will channel European funds for the purchase of U.S. weapons such as Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hopes the program will enable monthly purchases worth $1 billion, accelerating and expanding weapons deliveries.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s domestic defense industry is rapidly expanding, having already supplied drones that dominate the battlefield and begun producing more advanced weapons, including its first homegrown long-range cruise missile.

Despite the financial pressures facing European states and chronic manpower shortages, Ukraine has little choice but to strengthen its own defenses, as Western postwar security guarantees remain vague and non-binding.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko recently said that “the main guarantee of the country’s security is a fully capable, well-trained army in constant operational readiness.”