WP: The West has chosen to invest billions in Ukraine's military-industrial complex as an alternative to NATO membership
Photo: Ministry of Defense

Instead of Ukraine's rapid accession to NATO, Western allies have focused on a different strategy to help repel Russian aggression – investing billions in the development of Ukraine's defense industry. About writes The Washington Post.

The newspaper notes that if the strategy works, it will help not only to deter Russian aggression but also to provide the US and European armies with the most advanced drones and other military technologies.

"Ukrainians are the world's leaders in terms of drone technology," said the administration's special representative Donald Trump Keith Kellogg last week at a conference in Kyiv.

One of the latest achievements of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex is the R-34 quadcopter from FRDM, which can travel over 20 km, avoid Russian electronic warfare systems, and drop up to 6 kg of guided munitions.

According to the Minister of Defense Denis Shmygalyanowadays, the Ukrainian military-industrial complex already covers almost 60% of the army's needs (at the beginning of the full-scale war, this figure was only 10%).

At the same time, Ukraine's defense budget in 2024 amounted to $64 billion, half as much as Russia's. Therefore, Ukraine needs foreign investment to keep the balance.

According to the newspaper, in addition to private investment, security guarantees for Ukraine could be built around funding from European governments. In effect, the idea is that Europe will pay Kyiv for weapons production, filling in production gaps through mutually beneficial joint ventures.

"Ukraine has the advantage of having battle-tested systems, low production costs, and well-established structures capable of rapidly increasing weapons production," said Fabien Hinz, an expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Europe is taking the threat from Russia more and more seriously. After signals from Washington that the United States cannot always guarantee NATO's security, EU countries are looking for new approaches.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that with proper support, Ukraine would become a "steel hedgehog" that would be impossible to attack.

Denmark was the first to directly finance Ukrainian defense companies. It has also agreed to jointly produce parts for drones and missiles in the country, beyond the range of Russian strikes. The UK is preparing similar projects.

Ukraine will also receive €1.3 billion from Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Norway, and Iceland for the production of artillery, attack drones, missiles, and anti-tank systems. Germany is preparing a separate agreement.

Director of the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defense AOZ Arsen Zhumadilov noted: "When they [foreign companies] enter the market, they invest in production, and then their government pays for our ability to buy those products and deliver them to the battlefield. This is the best option".