Von der Leyen urges EU to buy weapons from Ukraine - It benefits all
Photo: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Getty Images)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on European Union countries to cooperate more actively with Ukraine's defense industry and to purchase weapons directly from Ukraine, Sky TG24 reports, citing Ursula von der Leyen during the Ukraine Recovery Conference.
In her speech at the Rome conference, Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that Ukrainian manufacturers have modern, high-quality weapons systems that can be supplied quickly and at low cost. However, their current capacity utilization is only about 60%.
"Our member states can take their SAFE loans and procure directly from Ukraine's defense industry. For our member states it's high quality, fast, and cheap. For Ukraine, it's both - crucial revenues, but also the opportunity to strengthen its defense industrial base," von der Leyen said.
European Commission President also assured that Europe's support for Ukraine remains unwavering at all levels - military, financial, and political.
"Europe will be on Ukraine's side for as long as it takes," emphasized von der Leyen.
Recently, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine's defense production potential exceeds $35 billion, but about 40% of that capacity lacks necessary funding.
Against this background, Ukraine's Ministry of Finance has been preparing a comprehensive draft amendment to the state budget law that includes increased defense spending, particularly for weapons production.
