Ukraine calls on EU to ramp up defense industry investments

Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Ihor Zhovkva, stated this during a meeting with a European Union delegation, according to the official website of the President of Ukraine.

“It is important to increase investment in Ukraine’s defense industry,” Zhovkva emphasized.

Benedikta von Seherr-Thoss, Managing Director for Peace, Security, and Defence at the European External Action Service (EEAS), who led the delegation, assured that the EU seeks deeper integration of Ukraine into the European security and defense system. She also noted the EU's interest in increasing defense production in its member states.

"The meeting focused on Ukraine's current military needs, including air defense systems and missiles, artillery systems, ammunition, and further defense cooperation with the European Union," the official website stated.

During the meeting, Ukraine–EU cooperation was discussed within the framework of the ReArm Europe initiative and the SAFE instrument. Ihor Zhovkva thanked the EU for its efforts to deliver 2 million artillery shells to Ukraine by the end of this year.

• At its May 27 meeting, the EU General Affairs Council approved the SAFE instrument, which allows the EU to loan up to €150 billion to invest in the defense industry.
• On May 30, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Ukraine scaled up its weapons production and can now cover about 40% of the Armed Forces’ needs for weapons.