Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky inaugurated Kyiv’s inaugural International Defence Industries Forum with the aim of attracting more arms manufacturers to establish production facilities in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion last year, Kyiv has heavily relied on Western assistance. However, it is now increasingly focused on strengthening its domestic arms industry, as there are concerns that support from its allies may diminish.
During the opening ceremony on Friday, Zelensky stated, “Our primary objective is to win this war and bring about a long-lasting and, more importantly, dependable peace for our people. We will achieve this goal through our collaboration with you.”
He went on to express Ukraine’s interest in localizing the production of essential defense equipment and advanced defense systems used by its soldiers, which have proven to be highly effective on the front lines.
The forum brought together representatives from more than 30 countries and 250 defense companies. This event coincides with Zelensky’s efforts to secure additional military support from Western nations for a counteroffensive against Russia.
In June, Kyiv initiated a campaign to reclaim territory that had been occupied, but progress has been slow due to the formidable Russian defenses that Ukrainian troops have encountered.