According to Zelenskiy, Ukraine has accumulated $43 billion in the defense industry
Ukraine has so far accumulated $43 billion in the defense industry between local funds this year and aid from allies, using it to enhance the production and purchase of drones, artillery and other weapons, Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.
Kiev has also announced new agreements to sign this summer, including launching a “Build with Ukraine” programme and opening production lines in European countries.
“We will provide the relevant technology and produce weapons in their country for us and for them,” Zelenskiy, which includes drones, missiles and possibly artillery, told reporters in Kiev late Friday, adding that measures will be taken to prevent one of the technologies that end in the Russian hands.
Ukraine is trying to repel Russian invasions until its fourth year, and develops domestic military capabilities as it attempts to take over its dependence on military aid from its allies, particularly the United States.
“Making sure to maintain American support is our priority,” Zelenskiy said, indicating that while some European counties have shown they will stick to Ukraine at every cost, “the most difficult situation is not American participation.”
Zelenskiy will be attending the NATO summit in The Hague, which begins Tuesday. He denies that Ukraine is facing the destruction of many patriot air defense systems that have been sourced from the US and other allies since 2022, or that it lacks weapons to make them work well.
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Ukraine’s air defenses are also being strengthened by the massive use of interceptor UAVs that can fire down Shahed drones used by Russia, he said.
The Kremlin forces continue to carry out massive air bombardment across Ukraine. According to regular updates from Ukrainian general staff, Moscow launched 272 drones and eight missiles overnight. Klemanchuk, the Poltaba area’s site, Key Oil Refinery, has once again become targeted after maintaining new damage a week ago.
Russia has also continued to use gliding bombs and other weapons at the forefront of eastern Ukraine, as well as Smie and Kharkiv in the northeastern part, as well as Dnipolopetrovsk and other regions.
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Zelenskiy has repeatedly called for energy restrictions, such as the low cap on Russian oil prices (plans to be shelved by the European Union this week), and sanctions against companies working directly and indirectly with the Russian defense industry.
Around 39 defense companies are involved in the production of Russia’s experimental Oleshnik ballistic missiles, of which 21 are currently unauthorized, he said.