Ukrainian authorities yesterday downplayed the possibility that the US Congress would reject a new aid package for Kiev, guaranteeing that they would have the industrial capacity to respond to weapons needs in the fight against Russia.
The US Congress is debating a new military aid package for Ukraine, but Republicans, especially in the majority House of Representatives, have raised objections, with some members of Congress favoring a financial investment in border security with Mexico.
The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Alexei Danilov, assured yesterday that the public and private defense industry has been working at full capacity since the Russian invasion in February 2022. According to Danilov, the work done since then has had significant consequences. progress.
“We are not falling behind. The weapons we have will surprise the world,” he said, although he expressed confidence that Congress will ultimately approve the new economic and military aid package.
Danilov said in an interview with the North American radio Voice of America that the production of weapons by the Ukrainian industry also depends on international cooperation. “This country is not alone (…) the joint production of the supplies and components necessary to achieve victory at the front is already underway,” he stated.
One of the advantages of the Ukrainian army, according to Danilov, is the ability to immediately put the new arsenal into practice in real combat situations. “Our military is clearly and quickly evaluating one weapon or another. We have high-quality experience in this field,” he added.
This guarantee in the field of weapons production was also given by the Ukrainian president, who yesterday declared that next year the country must produce, independently or with partners, all the weapons necessary to guarantee protection against any form of Russian aggression. “All aspects, from artillery to drones and missiles, were discussed in detail, with detailed clarifications on companies, contracts and state investments in production,” Volodymyr Zelensky said after a meeting with the Ministry of Strategic Industry, the Ministry of Defense, the General state major, who together with the Prime Minister outlined “the amount of resources that need to be urgently allocated to the defense sector”.
“In addition, in the coming year, government officials must decide on all objectives of our diplomatic activities – specifically regarding agreements with partners on weapons production, supply of components and equipment,” Zelensky said.
According to the Ukrainian president, all plans and actions “must be specified” for Defense “to ensure that the coming year is as productive as possible.” “Ukraine, independently or together with its partners, must produce everything necessary to protect itself against any form of Russian aggression. We can guarantee this,” he concluded.
with Lusa
Source: DN
