Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the opening of a new arms export office in Berlin to coordinate the export and joint production of Ukrainian weapons with Western partners.
The office aims to support Ukraine’s plans to significantly expand its defense industry, including the mass production of missiles. A similar office is expected to open in Copenhagen by the end of the year.
According to Zelensky, the planned exports from the Berlin office will include naval drones and artillery systems. Series production of the ‘Flamingo’ and ‘Ruta’ rocket models is set to begin later this year, with full-scale missile production targeted for 2025. Zelensky declined to give exact numbers but indicated that production is anticipated to be underway by year-end.
In recent weeks, Zelensky met with officials from U.S. defense company Raytheon, which produces long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot air defense systems. These discussions are part of Ukraine’s broader effort to strengthen its capabilities, while Russia has warned that sending Patriot missiles to Kyiv risks further escalation in the region.
