KIEV (dpa-AFX) - According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Ukraine is relying on cooperation with foreign defense companies to arm its army. "It is absolutely crucial for Ukraine that not only partner countries, but also defense companies from all over the world are increasingly interested in cooperating with us and our defense industry," Zelensky said in his evening video message.

On Tuesday, a defense industry forum was held in Kiev for the second time with representatives from more than 30 countries and almost 300 Ukrainian and foreign companies. There is foreign investment in the Ukrainian defense industry as well as foreign companies producing in Ukraine, Selensky said. "Ukraine is already producing things that we didn't have before, like the 155 caliber and our long-range drones, our naval drones."

Ukraine will have produced 1.5 million drones by the end of the year, said Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at a government meeting. The country's arms production has tripled compared to 2023. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion for more than two and a half years. Alongside other arms companies, Rheinmetall from Germany and the Franco-German company KNDS are active in Ukraine./fko/DP/he