UK weaponry trade to Ukraine ‘negative’ – Russian

Russia has announced that it will closely watch the company established by UK defense company BAE systems in Ukraine.

BAE has agreed to sell more weapons and equipment to Kyiv, and they will also start making light artillery there.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that the Russians did not view the move in a positive way.

BAE is proud of the weapons that the UK and other countries have sent to Ukraine.

Ever since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Britain has been providing a lot of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine.

The BBC knows that BAE hasn’t started a office or a factory in Ukraine yet, but they are talking about the possibility of doing it.

The company said that by making this change, they will be able to work closely with Ukraine to find and create potential partners and manufacture weapons in the country.

“The most important goal for us is to prioritize the creation of our own weapons,” wrote Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on X, a social media platform previously called Twitter.

Mr Zelensky told everyone after meeting with BAE’s boss, Charles Woodburn.

Mr Woodburn said that signing agreements and creating a legal organization in Ukraine strengthens our current trust and support. This will enable us to work together and offer more direct assistance to the Ukrainian armed forces.

However, Peskov expressed his disapproval of the decision, saying that they see it in a bad way. He also mentioned that any places that produce weapons, especially if those weapons are used against their country, will be closely watched by their military.

Interfax news agency reported that the spokesperson for the Kremlin said that foreign weapon manufacturing in Ukraine will not greatly alter the current circumstances.

“He also mentioned that it cannot have any effect on the already planned success and completion of the special military operation. ”

Ukraine and Sweden agreed to work together more closely on making, using, training, and repairing CV90 armored vehicles. These vehicles are currently made by BAE Systems’ Hägglunds company in Sweden.

Mr Zelensky mentioned in May that Kyiv and BAE were collaborating on a plan for the company to establish an office in Ukraine.

Kyiv wants to increase its weapons and military equipment, and also create jobs because the war has hurt its economy a lot.

Since February 2022, the share price of BAE has gone up by over 75%. They are now giving training and repair services to Ukraine’s military.

The international weapons, defense, and aviation company has 93,000 employees in approximately 40 countries across the globe.

This company is the largest defense contractor in Europe. They made over £23bn in sales and almost £2. 5bn in profits last year.