On Wednesday 17 April, Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, Oleksandr Kamyshin, called for closer integration of the European and Ukrainian defence industries, which he said had already begun.
“We are part of the strategy and there is an action plan between the defence industries in Ukraine and Europe that will strengthen both and offer mutual benefits”, he stressed by video conference during a speech at the European Defence and Security Summit. In his view, Ukraine is not in competition with European defence industries, but is part of mutual defence capabilities.
He called on the West to buy weapons intended for Ukraine directly from Ukraine’s defence industry. “Our arms industry offers competitive prices and produces simple, effective equipment”, he explained, adding that this equipment could quickly reach the front line.
The first joint venture between a Ukrainian and a German company was announced last autumn. “We now also have a sub-company agreement between Ukraine and EU defence industry companies, which includes licensed production, maintenance and repair, exchange of experience and joint production in Ukraine and other European countries. This is just the beginning”, he stressed. Mr Kamyshin felt that Ukraine had a lot to offer its partners. “We’re improving our legislation, our legislative framework and our procurement and credit procedures to enable parties and investors to stand with us”, he added.
The minister pointed out that Denmark had released a fund of almost €27 million the previous day, Tuesday, for investment in Ukraine’s defence industry, intended for the purchase of arms and munitions on Ukrainian soil.
The Managing Director for CSDP and Crisis Response at the European External Action Service, Benedikta Von Seherr-Thoss, said that the 3rd EU/Ukraine Defence Industry Forum, to be held in Brussels on 6 May, will focus on how to bring the industry together and how to find funding, and will allow companies to connect with a view to cooperation. In addition to donated military equipment, Ms Von Seherr-Thoss stated that Ukraine must be allowed to produce on its own.
For his part, Micael Johansson, CEO of Saab and vice-president of the ASD, reiterated the need for long-term commitments to the European defence industry and for sufficient funding. “There isn’t really a level playing field in the way we support Ukraine. Some countries have set up risk funds. The industry can then really access the funds if it delivers the products”, he stressed, explaining that this was not the case everywhere.
In Mr Johansson’s view, in addition to supplying new products, the focus should be on repairing equipment delivered, which calls for the training of people responsible for maintenance. “We cannot have 30% of equipment not in use, because it isn’t being repaired. More needs to be done in this area”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)