An increasing number of European nations are shifting their strategy from directly supplying weapons to channeling funds into Ukraine’s domestic defense sector. In the following sections of this newsletter, I’ll focus on ongoing or potential defense cooperation projects, such as the UK–Ukraine defense tech hub, as well as domestic military production, including Ukraine’s efforts to modernize its Soviet-era aviation.
The elusive Easter truce is mentioned in the final section. Reportedly, it is being used as a smokescreen for continued preparations and the repositioning of heavy Russian military equipment.
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Military Transfers to Ukraine
This time, let’s turn our attention to Germany and its growing role in supplying military aid to Ukraine.
Merz, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting, suggested on April 13 that long-range Taurus missiles, if delivered to Ukraine, could be used to target strategic Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea, including the Kerch Bridge. The 19-kilometer-long (12-mile) Crimean (Kerch) Bridge serves as a vital supply route for Russian forces.
The United Kingdom is ready to support Germany in the potential transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The final decision remains with Berlin, where discussions are still ongoing.
In his newsletter “Missile Matters”, Fabian Hoffmann analyzes the arguments both for and against supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He concludes that the missiles should be delivered as soon as possible: “There is a strong case that the cumulative effects of delivering Taurus in 2025 could be greater than if deliveries had taken place in earlier years”.
If Ukraine receives Taurus missiles, one significant hurdle will be adapting them to its largely Soviet-era air force, which includes aircraft like the Su-24 and Su-27. Equipping a Su-24 with Taurus missiles would require a few months for integration, followed by another three to four months to train personnel—meaning at least half a year before the system is combat-ready. Integrating Taurus with the recently delivered F-16s would be even more time-consuming, potentially taking 12 to 18 months due to necessary hardware modifications and software updates.
At the same time, Ukraine’s armed forces have shown remarkable skill in adapting Western weaponry for use with their older, Soviet-designed systems. A notable example is the successful modification of the Su-24 bomber to carry and deploy British Storm Shadow and French SCALP-EG cruise missiles.
Aside from the ongoing debate over Taurus missiles, Germany delivered a new military aid package to Ukraine on April 17, including 66 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP); ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 2; 4 Kinetic Defence Vehicle (Diehl Defence); 38,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD; IRIS-T SLM missiles; 3 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway); 27,000 rounds 155mm ammunition; 1,000 rounds 122mm ammunition; 70 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts; 150 strike drones HF-1; 10 unmanned surface vessels; 6 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts; 4 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts; 2 mine ploughs and other equipment.
Meanwhile, the performance of some German systems on the battlefield has occasionally fallen short of expectations. The Telegraph reported that Germany’s prized Leopard 2 tanks are failing on the battlefield in Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers are finding that Leopard 2 tanks have limited utility on the battlefield and are vulnerable to drone strikes — a challenge many modern tanks are currently facing. Additionally, the Leopard 2’s complicated design makes it difficult to repair on the battlefield, meaning that damaged Leopards must be sent to specialized repair crews in western Ukraine or even go all the way to Poland to be fixed and maintained.
Additional developments:
Since the beginning of 2025, the National Police of Ukraine and the State Border Guard Service have received 150 Roshel Senator MRAP armored vehicles. Another 40 units are currently in the process of being delivered. The procurement was funded by the U.S. government, according to the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine.
The Japanese Ministry of Defense is set to supply Ukraine with around 30 military light trucks. Six of these vehicles have already been delivered to Ukraine on April 10, 2025.
Sikorsky S-76 medevac helicopter, donated by Canadians and the Ukrainian diaspora, was handed over in person to Ukraine’s Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov.
The European Commission will allocate €2.1 billion in revenue from immobilized Russian assets for military aid to Ukraine. Of this amount, €1.1 billion will be used to purchase weapons for Ukraine, while the remainder will be directed — following the “Danish model” — to procure equipment directly from Ukrainian manufacturers.
On April 14, the UK made a second £752 million payment to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme. The funding will support Ukraine in procuring vital military equipment, including urgently needed air defence. The loan, which will be paid for through the profits of sanctioned Russian sovereign assets in the EU, forms part of a wider £2.26 billion loan
Volunteers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic, as part of the “Munícia pre Ukrajinu” project, purchased 122mm artillery ammunition for Ukrainian troops. This latest delivery includes 254 artillery shells, purchased for €397,169. The group reported the ammunition was produced by Slovakia’s MSM Group, a well-known defense manufacturer.
The Trump administration is holding virtually no serious discussions about sending additional military aid to Ukraine. The U.S. is also reportedly open to recognizing Crimea as Russian as part of a potential peace agreement.
Total assistance allocated by Europe to Ukraine since 2022 stands at 138 billion euros ($157 billion), 23 billion euros ($26 billion) more than the U.S., according to the Kiel Institute.
The U.S. still holds an edge in terms of military aid — its 65 billion euros ($74 billion) total leads Europe by 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) — but the gap is narrowing, as Washington has not allocated a new aid package since Jan. 9, still under the Biden administration.
Ukraine is ready to buy 10 Patriot systems for $15 billion - Zelensky.
Defense Cooperation and Joint Ventures
A cross-party group of MPs is calling on the UK Government to support the creation of a joint UK-Ukraine defence technology production hub, aimed at accelerating arms deliveries to Ukraine while boosting British jobs and defence manufacturing.