In a short period of cooperation with the EU defense industry, Ukraine has come a long way: from a simply being a recipient of aid in 2022 to becoming a potential partner capable of servicing and assembling first-class and high-tech weapons of European companies.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Dmytro Klimenkov stated this during the Ukrainian Defense-Industrial Forum in Brussels.

According to him, the Ministry of Defense expects European defense businesses to increase their investments in Ukraine, as well as the creation of new technologies and industrial capacity.

And the key goal of the ministry's team is to provide the Armed Forces with modern and effective weapons.

"Ukraine is interested in creating joint ventures with European defense companies. Armaments, which we most urgently require, can serve as the foundation for such cooperation between the Ukrainian and European defense industries. These are air defense systems, artillery systems and ammunition, EW equipment, as well as reconnaissance and attack drones," said Dmytro Klimenkov.

The subject of financing the manufacturing of priority weapons for the Armed Forces by Ukrainian defense industry businesses was also discussed with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EC Vice-President Josep Borrell.

The meeting was attended by Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense, Dmytro Klimenkov, the Minister of Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, and other Ukrainian and European delegation officials.