[AntiWar.Com] Kiev is planning a buildup of its weapons industry to produce more sophisticated arms, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov saying government takeovers of several companies will help Kiev to create an "army of drones" and other NATO-caliber weapons. The defense chief noted that growing military ties between Kiev and the West makes Ukraine a de facto NATO partner.
In an interview on Thursday, Reznikov told reporters Kiev was seeking to replicate Tel Aviv’s defense industry. "We are trying to be like Israel — more independent during the next years," he said.
The defense head argued that Israel’s advanced defense industry helps it maintain its sovereignty, adding "I think the best answer [can be seen] in Israel ... developing their national industry for their armed forces. It made them independent."
Ukraine has received tens of billions in security assistance from the US and its global partners. "We understood that [by] using Soviet weapon systems ... we are not independent. And it is better to have new systems with new ammunition of a NATO standard," Reznikov went on. |