The West wants to increase arms production in Ukraine, writes The New York Times.

Yesterday’s unexpected visit to Kyiv by the NATO Secretary General and the defense ministers of Great Britain and France is connected with this.

“Aware of waning Western support for the costly business of arming Ukraine, officials see the expansion of Ukraine’s own arms industry as a necessary economic development for the war-torn country,” the publication writes.

In his opinion, “this is also a potentially profitable prospect for Western arms manufacturers,” although risky in the face of constant Russian shelling. In addition, the West has found it difficult to fulfill its promises to arm Ukraine due to the decline in defense production since the Cold War.

“This will be an important opportunity for Ukrainian companies to establish new partnerships with the industry within the alliance and beyond. The stronger Ukraine becomes, the closer we come to ending Russian aggression,” Stoltenberg said.

Sébastien Lecornu also made it clear that the development of Ukrainian arms production is a commercial opportunity and a military goal. He was accompanied by about 20 representatives of the French government and defense industry.

“This is also a way for us to stay the course and strengthen French interests in Kyiv and Ukraine in the long term. We know that this war will last,” the French minister said.

The idea is that over time, Lecornu said, there will be fewer direct arms gifts to Ukraine and more sales; sometimes with subsidies.

The visits took place a day before a forum of international military contractors convened by the Ukrainian government. The participation of representatives of 165 companies from 26 countries was announced.

Also, after a meeting with President Biden last week, Zelensky said that he had entered into a “long-term agreement” with the United States on the joint production of weapons.