Ukraine has announced the launch of a large-scale joint weapons production program with international partners on its own territory and in the countries participating in the ‘Ramstein’ format. On July 1, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported this, emphasizing the importance of expanding military-industrial cooperation to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Scaling Production and New Legal Conditions
According to Rustem Umerov, domestic weapons and military equipment manufacturers will soon receive special tax and legal conditions that will allow them to rapidly expand production capacities, modernize equipment, and establish new factories both in Ukraine and abroad—in countries that are part of the Defense Contact Group.
“We have invaluable experience in conducting modern warfare, effective weapons and military equipment, and the ability to test all of this directly on the battlefield,” he stated.
All types of weapons produced at these enterprises until the end of the war will be directed towards the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. The minister emphasized that this is a new format of military-industrial cooperation in which Ukraine acts as an equal participant in the global defense product market.
Legislative Changes and Initial International Projects
The Ministry of Defense, together with the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada, presented the main provisions of four draft laws to defense industry enterprises. These include changes to tax, customs, budget legislation, and the Criminal Code aimed at developing the industry and enhancing production security. The first vote on these documents is planned to take place in July, and the minister expressed hope for parliamentary support.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky, after meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, announced that Denmark would be the first country with which Ukraine would implement a joint defense project. On June 24, in The Hague, the defense ministers of Ukraine and Denmark signed a Letter of Intent, which provides for the establishment of production capacities on Danish territory for the manufacture of Ukrainian defense products. To implement this initiative, Denmark has already allocated 500 million crowns. All production sites built within this cooperation will work to strengthen the Ukrainian Defense Forces.