Ukraine wants to receive an additional $20 billion from its allies "to consolidate its temporary battlefield advantage over Russia," Politico reports, citing a high-ranking official of the Ukrainian defense forces, UNN writes.
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"Everyone sees that Russia is burning, and we want it to burn even more, but we need funding for that," said the official, who wished to remain anonymous.
The request for $20 billion will be made on June 18 at the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also known as the "Ramstein" format, where allies organize financial and military aid to Kyiv
The issue was reportedly raised by Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and other government officials during a series of meetings with representatives from Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Canada, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
Each ally will be asked for between $2 billion and $6 billion to reach the $20 billion target, the official said, adding: "It could be aid or a loan."
Aid to Ukraine is expected to be a key issue at the July NATO leaders' summit in Ankara, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be present on the sidelines of the event, the publication indicates.
Ukraine's defense budget for this year is set at 4.4 trillion hryvnias (€85 billion), and the $20 billion would be allocated additionally, the publication writes.
Ukraine reportedly spends about 40 percent of its GDP on defense, which is the highest rate in the world.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, partner countries have already committed $38 billion in military aid for this year. "The additional $20 billion would bring Ukraine closer to the $60 billion bilateral aid target set by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte," the publication notes.
"If the additional $20 billion is received, Ukraine will use these funds for air defense, expanding contributions to PURL – a NATO-led program under which allies buy weapons for Ukraine from the United States – as well as for purchasing more drones, ammunition, electronic warfare equipment, long-range capabilities, and direct purchases from Ukrainian defense companies," the publication states.
"The goal is to use the funds to continue Ukraine's increasingly destructive attacks on Russia," the publication indicates.
The high-ranking Ukrainian official reportedly "paid tribute to the assistance of key allies such as Germany, Norway, and the Netherlands for helping to change the dynamics of the war."