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Zelenskiy says he wants half Ukraine's weapons to be produced domestically
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on July 16, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Zelenskiy aims for 50% of Ukraine's weapons to be locally produced in six months, emphasizing domestic arms industry growth amid the ongoing conflict.
Zelenskiy Aims for 50% of Ukraine's Weapons to Be Produced Locally
(Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that he was counting on his new incoming government to take measures to boost the proportion of weapons made at home to 50% within six months.
Zelenskiy has carried out a political reshuffle this week, nominating as his new prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the driving force behind a minerals deal with the United States. Outgoing prime minister Denys Shmyhal has been put forward as the new defence minister.
The nominations, which require parliamentary approval, came as diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia, now in its fourth year, have stalled and as Ukraine seeks to revive its cash-strapped economy and build up a domestic arms industry.
Zelenskiy said he, Shmyhal and outgoing defence minister Rustem Umerov had decided at a meeting on Wednesday that the defence ministry would have "greater influence in the domain of arms production".
"Ukrainian-made weapons now make up about 40% of those used at the front and in our operations," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "This is already significantly more than at any time in our country's independence. The production volumes are truly large, but we need more.
"Our goal is to reach 50% Ukrainian-made weaponry within the first six months of the new government, by expanding our domestic production. I am confident this is achievable, though not easy."
Zelenskiy has long stressed the importance of boosting domestic production of weapons and developing joint production of weaponry with Ukraine's Western partners.
It has focused on drone production and on providing air defences to withstand intensifying Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskiy has in recent weeks stressed the importance of developing drone interceptors as a rational way of tackling swarms of drones.
Kyiv's military authorities last week announced the allocation of $6.2 million for a drone interceptor program to defend the capital's skies from Russian drones.
(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Oleksander Kozhukhar, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
Key Takeaways
- •Zelenskiy wants 50% of Ukraine's weapons produced domestically.
- •New government to focus on boosting local arms production.
- •Political reshuffle includes new prime minister nomination.
- •Ukraine seeks to strengthen its economy and defense industry.
- •Focus on drone production and air defense systems.
Frequently Asked Questions about Zelenskiy says he wants half Ukraine's weapons to be produced domestically
1What percentage of weapons does Zelenskiy want to be produced in Ukraine?
Zelenskiy aims for 50% of weapons used by Ukraine to be produced domestically.
2Who is the new prime minister nominated by Zelenskiy?
Zelenskiy has nominated Yulia Svyrydenko as the new prime minister.
3What is the current percentage of Ukrainian-made weapons in use?
Currently, Ukrainian-made weapons account for about 40% of those used in operations.
4What recent funding has Kyiv's military authorities announced?
Kyiv's military authorities announced the allocation of $6.2 million for a drone interceptor program.
5What is the focus of Ukraine's defense strategy according to Zelenskiy?
Zelenskiy has emphasized the importance of boosting domestic production and developing joint production with Western partners.
