Sybiha: Countries backing Russian aggression, even covertly, not to be able to cooperate with Ukraine in arms exports

The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine will play a role in relation to potential partners in the direction of controlled exports of Ukrainian arms, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said.

"Supporting our defense industry is an absolute priority of our diplomacy. It includes three priorities. The first is more investment. The second is support for the president's initiative on the possibility of exporting surplus products of our defense industry," Sybiha said during his opening remarks at the third International Defense Industry Forum on Monday.

According to Sybiha, the Foreign Ministry "will play its role here in relation to potential partners."

"Those countries that today take a passive position in supporting Ukraine, that provide covert or overt support to Russian aggression, will certainly not be included in the list of partners that will have the opportunity to cooperate with Ukraine, with Ukrainian companies in this direction," the minister said.

The MFA's third priority in supporting the Ukrainian defense industry, added Sybiha, is "creating a real multiplier from our weapons." In particular, this concerns the creation of jobs for Ukrainian citizens in Ukraine.

"This, by the way, is also our integration into the European Union. The latest Eurobarometer says that it is for our contribution to security that they expect us most as a future EU member," the minister said.