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| Unable to wait forever for weapons from the West, Ukraine plans to become the world's new military production center. (Source: Shutterstock) |
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said he believes that in the future Ukraine will become a new center for the production of high-quality military products in Europe and a new arsenal of the world.
The head of the Ukrainian government spoke about this goal at the First International Defense Industry Forum taking place in Kiev - an arms fair that has attracted some 252 defense companies from more than 30 countries.
“Everyone is aware of the risks, but those who think strategically also understand that Ukraine will become a new military production center in Europe. Currently, we are working with partner countries to restore Western military equipment.
In addition, the plan to create a closed cycle in the production of weapons, military equipment and ammunition in Ukraine is also being focused on.
“We are creating joint ventures and service centers, which will help gradually integrate the Ukrainian defense industry into the industrial production environment and industry of partner countries,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Shmyhal revealed the method.
Mr. Shmyhal analyzed that Ukraine needs more than ever the efficient functioning of state defense enterprises, factories and offices. For this purpose, the State Defense Corporation Ukroboronprom of Ukraine was transformed into the Joint Stock Company Defense Industry of Ukraine.
“But we need more than that. That is why this Forum is being held at the initiative of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The goal of this event is to bring together world arms manufacturers in Ukraine, with Ukrainian arms manufacturers for the purpose of developing joint, promising projects,” Mr. Shmyhal outlined the goal.
In 2024, the Ukrainian government plans to allocate about UAH 48 billion (about $1.3 billion) to finance the Drone Army project. The same amount will be spent on the production of weapons and ammunition.
In fact, “The First Defense Industry Forum in Kiev opened a new era in the development of the Ukrainian defense industry. The achieved figures exceeded all expectations,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
“Now we are not just bringing foreign weapons to Ukraine. We are integrating the Ukrainian defense industry into the NATO defense industry,” Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement posted on Instagram .
“We are establishing mutually beneficial partnerships and using advanced technologies to produce the most powerful weapons ourselves in the necessary quantities. To ensure that, on the front line, the soldier has everything he needs to protect himself and destroy the enemy. To ensure that, after the victory, the weapons created by Ukraine together with our partners will be the most competitive in the world,” Kuleba wrote.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also cited figures that he said exceeded all expectations. “I am very grateful to the 252 companies from more than 30 countries of Europe, North America, Asia and Australia that came to Kiev to participate in our Defense Industry Forum,” Kuleba said.
The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also revealed that to organize this Forum, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has been working closely with the Ministry of Strategic Industries and the Ministry of Defense. They are working around the clock to bring together as many defense companies as possible, to ensure that the governments of the countries they represent provide comprehensive support for joint projects with Ukraine, including attracting NATO and the EU into the process.
“This was one of the key points in the international contacts of President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian officials. Everyone worked towards this goal and we succeeded,” Minister Kuleba believes.
At the Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced the establishment of the Defense Industry Union and expressed his readiness to build a "new world arsenal" in the country. Mr. Zelensky emphasized that 13 famous companies have signed a declaration on the establishment of the alliance and, according to him, these companies are ready to build a "new world arsenal" together with Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainian President also left open the possibility of military equipment and weapons manufacturers from around the world joining the alliance.
Confident in the success of this idea, in a statement, President Zelensky affirmed, “this is a good time and place to create a large military center”. “Ukraine is ready to offer special conditions to companies ready to develop defense production together with our country”.
Observers commented that the "Kiev Arms Fair" took place in the context that Western armies, especially in Europe, are reaching the limit of the number of weapons they can provide to Ukraine. Unable to rely on a limited source forever, Kiev is looking to develop its own arms industry.
Meanwhile, as the military's reserves of weapons that could support Ukraine begin to run out, Western governments have also given the green light to encourage the private sector to build direct partnerships with Kiev.
French and German defense companies are setting up local shops in Ukraine to service weapons, Politico recently revealed, in what is seen as a first step toward producing weapons in the country.
Over the past week, French officials have begun to deliver a new message, “Paris can no longer continue to supply weapons to Kiev,” and will instead offer a new form of cooperation on weapons and ammunition.
During the First International Defense Industry Forum in Kiev, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu and about 20 French defense contractors, with names such as Thales, MBDA, Nexter and Arquus... came to Kiev to discuss cooperation with Ukrainian officials.
Meanwhile, Germany's Federal Cartel Office has also given the green light to a joint venture between German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall and Ukraine's Military-Industrial Corporation.
The French and German moves come after British arms maker BAE Systems and the Swedish government took similar steps.
In August, Ukraine and Sweden signed a declaration of intent to increase cooperation “in the production, operation, training and maintenance” of the Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) platform, which is produced by a Swedish subsidiary of BAE Systems. Days later, BAE Systems announced that it would establish a local entity to increase production of 105mm light artillery…
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