Ukraine is moving toward building its own production capacity for air defense systems, missiles, and related military equipment, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, outlining what he described as a long-term strategic priority for the country’s defense.
The push reflects Kyiv’s effort to reduce dependence on external supply chains at a time when global demand for air defense systems has increased sharply due to multiple active conflicts.
Moving toward domestic production
Speaking after meetings in Lviv, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working with partners not only on immediate military support but also on expanding its ability to produce critical weapons domestically, including air defense systems and interceptor missiles.
“We are moving toward conditions in which we will be able to produce air defense in Ukraine and together with our partners – all necessary formats, systems, missiles and so on,” he said.
Ukraine has significantly expanded its domestic air defense capabilities during the war, particularly in countering drones and short-range aerial threats, but it remains dependent on Western partners for more advanced systems, including ballistic missile defense and interceptor technologies needed to protect critical infrastructure and cities from higher-end strikes.
Partners, spring pressure, and Iran's shadow
Zelenskyy said cooperation with Sweden, Germany, Norway, Italy, and the Netherlands is focused on maintaining Ukraine’s resilience through the spring and summer campaign period, when Russia typically increases its offensive pressure.
He also linked the urgency of strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses to broader global instability, including the war involving Iran, warning that it could affect the availability of certain weapons systems and interceptors on international markets.
“We are seeking anti-ballistic capabilities,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s partners were working to ensure continued support despite competing demands.
Licenses, factories, and security guarantees
A key part of Ukraine’s strategy, he said, is expanding defense-industrial cooperation with Western states, including licensing arrangements and the creation of production facilities that would allow Ukraine to manufacture air defense systems and missiles domestically.
Zelenskyy said such capabilities would form part of broader security guarantees under discussion with partners, alongside long-term weapons supply packages.
“We are considering weapons packages, the ability to produce the necessary weapons, and therefore licenses and an industrial base,” he said.
Maritime security and interconnected threats
Zelenskyy also referenced discussions on maritime security, drawing parallels between global concerns over key shipping routes and Ukraine’s earlier efforts to break Russian control in the Black Sea.
“Security must be protected together,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s experience showed that maritime and regional security challenges are increasingly interconnected.
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