Ukraine: Ukraine has hosted a defence industry conference to boost domestic weapons production, aiming to defend against Russia’s invasion and lessen reliance on foreign arms imports.
This event signifies a shift in support for Ukraine. Previously, the focus was on delivering weapons, repairing damaged equipment, and providing military training to Ukrainian soldiers.
During the international defence industries forum’s opening, President Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that over 250 defence companies from 30+ countries gathered in Kyiv. Defence ministers and representatives from various nations also attended the event.
Mr. Zelenskyy shared insights from his recent visit to Washington, highlighting an agreement with US President Mr. Joe Biden to create a robust industrial ecosystem benefiting Ukraine and its partners. Mr. Zelenskyy emphasized it as a pivotal result of his talks with Mr. Biden in Washington.
Mr. Andriy Yermak, Mr. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, mentioned upcoming meetings with US representatives to plan cooperation and production localization in Ukraine.
At the forum, Mr. Zelenskyy revealed the formation of the Defence Industries Alliance, with 13 defence companies already signing the related declaration.
Ukraine intends to create a dedicated fund to foster cooperation and grow its industrial complex. The president mentioned that this fund would be funded through dividends from state defence resources and proceeds from the sale of seized Russian assets.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Mr. Dmytro Kuleba said the first talks about joint production with allies began last fall. “At first, we were talking about repairs within Ukraine, and then about joint production. And now, this topic is prevalent everywhere,” quoted Mr. Kuleba.
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