Zelenskyy meets with leading U.S. defense companies, pitches European defense hub in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with executives of leading U.S. defense companies during his visit to Washington, the President’s Office reported on Dec. 11.

Boeing President Theodore Colbert and BAE Systems President Tom Arseneault were among those invited.  

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to all employees of American defense companies who produce weapons that aid the Ukrainian army.

President Zelenskyy highly appreciated the participation of these companies in the Ukrainian-American defense industry conference last week.

“I want to thank all of you, as well as your partners. I would also like to say something important to your employees: you have done a lot for Ukraine. Without people like you, we would not be able to withstand and defend our land,” Zelenskyy said.

Zelenskyy spoke about the idea of creating a defense hub in Europe, which would be located in Ukraine, as the country currently has gained much practical experience through the war.

Ukraine is ready to make decisions very quickly, simplify bureaucratic procedures, and place orders to implement this idea, he said.

“We are ready to deliver fast, and we have already started doing this, because we have no other way to change the system, because we are at war,” he noted.

Ukraine is ready and will produce more ammunition and military equipment, but needs support from such powerful companies, he said.  Specifically, this includes joint production of artillery ammunition, air defense systems, artillery, and missile systems.

Ukraine also wants to invite American partners to take stakes in Ukrainian defense companies, which would be in the interest of all parties, he said.

Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of a creative and innovative approach in the defense industry, exemplified by projects like FrankenSAM, which have enabled the integration of modern Western and old Soviet technological solutions to achieve rapid results in protecting Ukrainian cities and the lives of Ukrainian citizens.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine