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Western defense officials made unannounced visits to Kyiv on Thursday in a show of support, as international arms manufacturers were preparing for a forum aimed at increasing weapons production inside Ukraine as its allies struggle to meet its needs for ammunition.<\/p>\n
The defense minister of Britain and France met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Kyiv this week, as did Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO, who told a news conference there on Thursday that it was important to help Ukraine boost its domestic weapons production.<\/p>\n
His remarks came a day ahead of the event organized by the Ukrainian government, which Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine\u2019s minister of foreign affairs, said<\/a> would bring together representatives of 165 military contractors from 26 nations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will be an important opportunity for Ukrainian companies to forge new partnerships with the industry across the alliance and beyond,\u201d Mr. Stoltenberg told a news conference with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine on Thursday. \u201cThe stronger Ukraine becomes, the closer we come to ending Russia\u2019s aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite an influx of sophisticated weapons provided by Western allies, progress in Ukraine\u2019s counteroffensive has been slow. The front line has barely shifted over the past year,<\/a> and a prolonged stalemate could weaken Western support. As the war drags on, political support in Washington for continuing the costly donations is threatening to wane<\/a>, particularly within the Republican Party, and Europe is struggling to deliver<\/a> on its promises of ammunition aid.<\/p>\n Ukraine has been drumming up pledges of new arms, while looking to ramp up its domestic arms industry. Joint production would not only help in the war effort, but would potentially be important for Ukraine\u2019s economy<\/a> and lucrative for defense industry contractors.<\/p>\n News of Mr. Stoltenberg’s visit, his second since the start of Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion in February 2022, came amid a flurry of appearances this week in Kyiv by other Western defense officials.<\/p>\n Mr. Zelensky\u2019s office said he had discussed the importance of strengthening Ukraine\u2019s air defenses before winter with Mr. Stoltenberg and with the British and French defense ministers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Secretary General has committed to make personal efforts to support us, to rally the Allies behind this very purpose,\u201d Mr. Zelensky\u2019s office said in a statement. \u201cWe need to come through this winter together, protect our energy infrastructure and people\u2019s lives.\u201d<\/p>\n S\u00e9bastien Lecornu, France\u2019s defense minister, said on Thursday that he had come to Ukraine accompanied by some 20 representatives of the French defense industry in fields as diverse as robots, drones, artillery and artificial intelligence. <\/p>\n Grant Shapps, Britain\u2019s new defense secretary, traveled to Kyiv on Wednesday to discuss ongoing defense support and bolstering Ukraine\u2019s air defenses with Mr. Zelensky, British officials said. The trip was not publicized.<\/p>\n \u201cI am committed to maintaining the U.K.\u2019s military support \u2014 particularly as the freezing winter weather approaches,\u201d Mr. Shapps said, according to a British government statement<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n Neither Mr. Shapps nor Mr. Lecornu were expected to attend Ukraine\u2019s first International Defense Industries Forum<\/a>, which Mr. Stoltenberg said would take place on Friday.<\/p>\n Britain has committed several billion dollars in military assistance to Ukraine, the third biggest supporter after the United States and Germany, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n France has committed about 530 million euros, or about $560 million, in military aid to Ukraine \u2014 including long-range cannons, armored combat vehicles and rocket launchers.<\/p>\n