Alliance with 13 defense companies
Ukraine wants to become one of the largest arms producers
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Ukraine plans to build its own defense industry. To this end, President Zelenskyj is forging an alliance with a dozen international companies. This should also reduce dependence on foreign deliveries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj announced the establishment of a defense industry alliance at a forum with representatives of international defense companies in Kiev. The basis of the association is a declaration that has so far been signed by 13 outstanding weapons manufacturers, Zelenskyj announced on social networks. Other defense companies could join.
Zelensky wants to make Ukraine one of the largest arms producers in the world. It is an alliance committed to international law and the defense of the free world, said the President. “I'm not just talking about Ukraine, but about the security from aggression of every nation in the world,” he emphasized to the weapons manufacturers. Accordingly, 252 companies from more than 30 countries took part in the defense industry forum.
The priority is the development of a modern defense industry in Ukraine, said Zelensky. Rockets, drones and artillery shells will be produced in collaboration with leading companies. “Ukraine is ready to offer special conditions to companies that want to develop the defense industry together with our country,” Zelensky said on Telegram. The members of the alliance should build an arsenal together with Ukraine.
The country, which has so far been supplied with weapons mainly by the West in its defense against the Russian war of aggression, wants to produce the majority of armaments itself in the future. For this purpose, Ukraine will set up a special defense fund to create additional economic resources in addition to state defense spending, Zelensky said. “The fund will be replenished with dividends from state defense assets and profits from the sale of confiscated Russian assets,” he said.
Arms companies from Germany, the USA, Great Britain, France, Turkey, Sweden, the Czech Republic and from Asian countries as well as Australia were also represented at the forum in Kiev. The arms alliance is also seen as Ukraine's response to Russia's stated war goal of wanting to demilitarize the country.
