Zelensky calls for investment in Ukraine’s defense industry

Zelensky said he is asking international partners who do not have their own production capacity to invest in Ukraine’s defense industry to jointly produce weapons and strengthen the frontline in the war against Russia.

The request comes amid Ukraine’s heavy dependence on Western arms supplies and Kyiv’s long wait for new US aid, which has been delayed by a political row in the US Congress.

Zelensky said the six-month delay in US arms deliveries has caused major problems on the front and Kyiv hopes to discuss them at a meeting of the Ukraine contact group on Friday.

Now that political decisions have been made, the next step is to clarify the weapons and logistics involved, Zelensky said.

Kyiv needs Western military aid, in part because Ukraine can only produce a limited amount of weapons, and also because Russia has destroyed much of Ukraine’s industry.

The delay in US military support has forced Ukraine to defend itself while Russia has managed to capture new territories.