Ukraine opens DC weapons office and Europe bolsters defense spending as a hedge on US election
Ukraine is opening a small office in Washington, D
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine is opening a small office in Washington, D.C., to strengthen its ties to U.S. defense industry, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday at the opening of the NATO summit in Washington as it and many European nations are boosting their own weapons production capabilities as a hedge against the November presidential vote.
Regardless of whether President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump wins, NATO and Ukraine are hastily working toward being in a better position to provide more of their own defense needs.
The announcement of the creation of the office was one of several regarding new weapons for Ukraine and a general agreement among NATO European members to become stronger on defense.
Before Russia's 2022 invasion, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, worked on his farm. “I was a happy Ukrainian dealing with agriculture and knowing nothing about military things,” Kamyshin said. Ukraine in 2021 produced zero rounds of ammunition, and started the conflict with the stocks it had on the shelves, he said.