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conclude new contracts. Currently, Ukraine’s military-industrial complex’s priority is the production of ammunition, drones, armored vehicles, and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles. Also, in cooperation with foreign partners, Ukrainian manufacturers have established the production of mortar mines, artillery, and tank shells.
Germany’s Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with 100,000 mortar shells. German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall received an order from the German government to provide Ukraine with about 100,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition, the company announced on Nov. 8.
A French company will supply arms worth €36M to Ukraine, and Slovakia has promised not to block private arms exports to Ukraine.Ukrspecexport and French company Verney-Carron signed a contract to supply small arms and grenade launchers. Verney-Carron will deliver 10,000 assault and 2,000 sniper rifles, and 400 grenade launchers to Ukraine. Implementing the framework contract is subject to providing the necessary financing, which Ukrainian and French sources can provide. The delivery of qualifying batches is scheduled for the beginning of 2024. The first serial deliveries are planned six months after the conclusion of the contract. At the same time, Slovakia's pro-Russian Prime Minister Robert Fico softened his campaign promise to end military aid to Ukraine and said his government would not block the supply of weapons and ammunition from private manufacturers. He added that the pre-election promise referred only to supplies from the Slovak army’s reserves.
The Netherlands promises €500M worth of ammunition, Sweden has already delivered eight Archers, and Ukraine is strengthening its production. The Minister of Defense of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren, promisedto allocate €500M for Ukrainian ammunition supplies by the middle of next year. Meanwhile, Sweden officially confirmed the transfer of eight Archer self-propelled artillery systems with a 50 km range to Ukraine. The German Ministry of Defense notes that since the beginning of the war, more than 8,000 Ukrainian soldiers have undergone training in Germany. The German government stated that they are determined to provide military support to Ukraine until the end of this decade and beyond. Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, following a meeting with the GM of the Rheinmetall defense concern, said, "Ukraine will have more weapons and ammunition. We discussed ways to further develop the alliance of the German and Ukrainian defense industries." Also, the Ukrainian Parliament emphasized that the domestic production of projectiles has increased 20 times compared to last year.
Fico says he won't hinder arms sales from Slovak companies to Ukraine. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico said his government will not prevent arms sales from Slovak companies to Ukraine, the Slovak news outlet Dennik N reported on Nov. 6.
Next Ramstein-format summit to be held in mid-November. The 17th Ramstein-format summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will be held in mid-November, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Nov. 9.
German ambassador: New Patriot air defense system to arrive in Ukraine this winter. The system was originally pledged by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Oct. 5, but he did not give a timeline for when it would be delivered.
37 UKRAINE Country Report December 2023 www.intellinews.com