JAKARTA - The United States and Ukraine agreed to launch joint weapons production, allowing Kyiv to start producing air defense systems, President Volodymyr Zelensky said after ending his visit to Uncle Sam's country.
In his daily address to Ukrainians, President Zelensky said the long-term agreement would create jobs and new industrial bases in Ukraine, as the country's economy was hit by the Russian invasion.
"It was a very important visit to Washington, a very important result," President Zelensky said in a video posted on the presidential website on Friday.
"And our long-term agreement will work together so that Ukraine produces weapons needed together with the United States. Joint production in the defense sector with the United States is historic," he said.
Kyiv is known to have stepped up efforts to increase domestic weapons production as much as possible, as the 19-month war has created a huge demand for weapons and ammunition to fend off Russian attacks on the front lines of 1,000 km (620 miles). Russian airstrikes in Ukraine have caused extensive damage and killed many people.
President Zelensky said the Strategic Industry Ministry, which oversees arms production in Ukraine, has signed a cooperation agreement with three associations, which brings together more than 2,000 US defense companies, regarding possible future jobs in Ukraine.
"We are preparing to create a new defense ecosystem with the United States, to produce weapons to strengthen further freedom and protect lives together," President Zelensky said without disclosing further details.
Ukraine itself relies heavily on Western military support. To reduce its dependence, President Zelensky and his team have pushed for reforms in the domestic defense industry to modernize local manufacturers and increase supplies to the front lines.
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Some time ago, Kyiv Leaders said they would soon host an international weapons production forum, which invites companies from more than 20 countries.
The government is also implementing reforms in its main weapons production company Ukroboronprom to increase transparency, increase production capacity and allow governments to cooperate more actively with Western producers.
Prior to Uncle Sam's country, Ukraine had approved several joint projects with European manufacturers to repair Ukrainian tanks and other vehicles, as well as seek to develop drone and missile production.
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