Ukraine's dismissed minister to allies: Cut red tape, fund our drones

Ukraine's dismissed minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called on Western allies to cut through bureaucratic red tape that he says is delaying vital military supplies and costing lives on the front lines. His remarks come as Ukraine continues to rely on foreign aid to sustain its war effort.

In an interview with the BBC, Fedorov acknowledged the UK's substantial assistance, including £16bn in weapons since the start of the war, and praised the recent use of British-made drones in strikes against Russian targets. But he argued that the current system of delivering aid is ill-suited to the realities of modern warfare.

"Governments are lagging behind the realities on the ground. It's not only the issue for the UK, but for other countries as well that announce some assistance and we are not getting it until the end of the year," he said.

The former minister, who was dismissed from his government post, criticised the tendency of allies to provide equipment based on their own inventories rather than Ukraine's actual needs. He proposed that instead of sending outdated hardware, Western nations should directly fund Ukraine's growing drone industry.

"We don't need repairs of tanks when we no longer use tanks," Fedorov said, highlighting the gap between traditional weaponry and the agile technologies used in modern combat.

Ukraine has developed a robust domestic drone manufacturing sector, producing both reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicles. Fedorov argued that investing in these capabilities directly would yield faster and more effective results than shipping old tanks that are no longer deployed on the front.

He also underscored the wider value of Ukraine's defence, saying the experience gained is beneficial to all allies. "Unfortunately, our losses, our blood, our military experience is beneficial to all of you guys. You can get this experience for all the assistance that you give us," he told the BBC.

The UK has been one of Ukraine's strongest backers, committing £16bn to date. Recent reports confirmed that British-manufactured drones have been used in attacks on Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in the types of support provided.

Fedorov's comments reflect growing frustration in Kyiv about the pace of Western aid. While billions have been pledged, the process of approving, transporting, and integrating new systems often takes months, leaving Ukrainian forces short of essential equipment during critical phases of the conflict.

Fedorov, who previously led Ukraine's digital transformation efforts, has long championed the use of cutting-edge technology in defence. His advocacy for drones aligns with Kyiv's broader push to modernise its military and reduce dependence on legacy systems.

Turning to his own political career, Fedorov said he had no immediate ambition to run for president but did not rule out a future candidacy. He said such a decision would depend on the restoration of democratic elections, his energy, and public trust.

"It will all depend on how soon we'll be able to relaunch this democratic election process, how much energy I would have, whether I will preserve my team, whether I will be able to respond to the question myself, whether I can handle this position of the president or not," he said.

"What's more important, is whether people will tell me, yeah, we can trust you handling that position," he added.