Ukraine is expected to become a leading supplier of military equipment to Europe after the war with Russia ends, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told Fox News on August 17.
Whitaker said that now is the time to start planning for Ukraine’s recovery and the future of its economy post-war.
“I think we need to start thinking a lot about the rebuilding of Ukraine, about what their economy looks like post-war. They’re going to certainly be a large provider of military equipment to Europe as they spend this 5% that they all agreed to. And so that’s going to be crucial,” he said.
The ambassador added that substantial funding—primarily from Europe—will flow into Ukraine to support reconstruction after the war.
Following Russia’s invasion, NATO countries pledged to increase their defense spending—many beyond the traditional 2% target, with new commitments moving toward 3–5% of GDP. The surge in demand for weapons, drones, and ammunition has strained existing European and US stockpiles, leaving a gap that Ukraine’s rapidly growing defense sector is well-positioned to fill.
Already, Ukrainian-made drones and counter-drone systems are drawing international interest after proving effective on the battlefield. Defense officials in Europe see Ukraine not only as a frontline state but also as a future arms exporter capable of supplying equipment tested under real combat conditions.
Earlier, Ukrainian photographer Efrem Lukatsky published the first images of the new long-range cruise missile “Flamingo,” which has reportedly entered serial production.
The photographs, taken on August 14 at a facility of the Ukrainian defense company Fire Point, show the missile in assembly.
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