Oleksandr Kamyshin, head of the Ministry of Strategy and Industry of Ukraine, announced this significant development.
This initiative marks the first time Denmark will procure military supplies directly from Ukraine, setting a potential precedent for other nations. The decision comes after months of Ukraine urging its partners to consider such direct purchases to support its defense industry.
"The Ukrainian defense industry has already accelerated to such an extent that the Ukrainian budget cannot fully load manufacturers with orders. The capacity of the Ukrainian defense industry is about 20 billion dollars, while Ukraine has only 6 billion dollars available for the purchase of weapons. Essentially, we only have a third of all the machine tools available in the country because we don't have enough money to provide the rest with orders," explained Kamyshin.
He noted that the optimal solution is to encourage international partners ready to buy weapons for Ukraine to procure directly from Ukrainian manufacturers. This approach not only supports Ukraine's defense capabilities but also bolsters its domestic industries.
Additionally, on April 17, the Danish government announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth 2.2 billion kroner (about 295 million euros). This funding is designated for enhancing the maritime potential of the Ukrainian forces, as well as supporting the production of drones and missile spare parts.
Despite a significant production capacity, Ukraine's current budget of $6 billion for 2024 is insufficient to fully utilize its domestic manufacturing capabilities, underscoring the need for continued and expanded support from international partners.
