Ukraine aims to become Western weapons production hub, says minister

Ukraine's Minister for Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, aims to transform Ukraine into a weapons production hub for the West, with approximately 500 companies in Ukraine's defense industry contributing to the country's efforts. Kamyshin highlights the need for countries to invest in defense systems, citing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Ukraine has significantly scaled up local arms production, manufacturing various types of weapons and ammunition, including drones, armored vehicles, and missiles. The industry has grown exponentially, enhancing Ukraine's capabilities to strike inside Russia. Kamyshin seeks international cooperation and joint production of weapons, with over 60 companies from the US, UK, France, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, and Turkey expressing interest. However, Ukraine will still depend on foreign supply due to the ongoing war with Russia.