President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he wants Ukraine to increase its own weapons production and not depend on external factors in this regard. In an interview with AP, he said he hopes to receive licenses from Western allies to manufacture and repair equipment, as well as a cheap loan to finance such plans.

According to the president, the Ukrainian state allocates a significant part of its budget to the production of weapons, including drones. But the current level of production is still not enough to turn the tide of the war. Therefore, Zelensky expects to receive the above-mentioned loans and licenses from the West.

"This is the way out," the president said, adding that nothing scares Russia as much as a militarily self-sufficient Ukraine.

He said that the last time he met with US President Joe Biden, members of Congress and other high-ranking US officials, he urged them to give Ukraine cheap loans and licenses to produce American weapons.

"Give us these opportunities and we will build everything. No matter how much effort and time it takes, we will do it, and we will do it very quickly," Zelensky said.


As we reported earlier, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine said that next year it would increase the production of missiles, ammunition, weapons and military equipment several times.