UK defence giant in talks to set up Ukraine factory

BRITISH defence giant BAE Systems has held talks with Volodymyr Zelensky about setting up an arms factory in Ukraine as he seeks to bolster Kyiv’s arsenal of weapons.

Ukraine’s president highlighted the discussions — which included the possible “localised production” of weapons — in his overnight address as his forces were on the brink of launching a major counter-offensive against Vladimir Putin’s army.

Mr Zelensky, inset, said: “I spoke with representatives of the powerful British defence company BAE Systems. This is a truly large-scale weapons manufacturer — the weapons that we need now and that we will need in the future to ensure the security of our country and the entire region.”

He added: “We are working to create an appropriate base for production and repair in Ukraine. We are talking about a wide range of weapons — from tanks to artillery. We will provide Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, with this new foundation of strength.”

Britain has led the West in arming Ukraine against Putin’s war, first by providing NLAW anti-tank weapons, and then being the first to commit to supply tanks, with Challenger IIs being sent. Mr Zelensky said on his Telegram social media feed: “We discussed the localisation of production in Ukraine. We agreed to start work on opening a BAE Systems office in Ukraine, and subsequently repair and production facilities for the company’s products.”

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, said they were “exploring how we could support the Ukrainian government as it revitalises the country’s defence industrial base to ensure their long-term security. It was a privilege to speak with President Zelensky”. It comes as UK defence chiefs today said they believed Russia’s intensified aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, in recent weeks has had “little success”.

Putin’s forces have launched near nightly drone and missile attacks on Ukraine throughout May.

In its latest intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence said: “Russia has had little success in its likely aims of neutralising Ukraine’s improvised air defences and destroying Ukrainian counter-attack forces.”

Russian officials today said a Ukrainian drone had sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in southern Russia.