Budanov warns that a Europe without U.S. security ties would be perilous

Kyrylo Budanov explained that Russia’s recent surge in aerial assaults targets civilians—including women, children, the elderly and World War II veterans—to intimidate the Ukrainian populace, labeling the tactic as classic terrorism. He affirmed that Moscow believes sustained attacks could wear down Ukrainians and pressure the government, but denied that Russia is adapting faster than Ukraine, citing Ukraine’s own progress on advanced drone-interceptor technology.

Budanov highlighted the challenge of scaling up production of these interceptors before the upcoming winter, asserting confidence after personally observing the prototypes and manufacturing line. He indicated that the new systems could become part of existing “Drone Deal” agreements with European partners, though Ukraine will prioritize its domestic requirements. Future cooperation may involve joint ventures or overseas production sites with Ukrainian engineers, while certain critical technologies will stay within Ukraine. He also noted ongoing financing talks with the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, and reiterated that a security architecture for Europe without the United States would be a very dangerous option.