For the past twenty years I have participated in the excellent annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) conferences, but this year I felt a certain trepidation. How depressed would Ukrainians be after three and a half years of war?
To my happy surprise, I found that Ukraine has turned the tables not only on Russia but also on the Western world. Militarily, the Ukrainians think they have virtually stopped the Russian summer offensive, with Moscow’s forces gaining minimal territory at tremendous cost.
The talk of town was the innovative Ukrainian armaments industry, especially the many drone producers. Prominent participants Anne Appelbaum, Thomas Friedman and Chrystia Freeland have reported similar observations.
For years, Ukraine has relied on Western arms supplies, but now Ukraine has become almost self-sufficient in some weapons systems.
I talk regularly to Oleksandr Kamyshin, President Zelensky’s advisor on arms production. A year ago, he told me that Ukraine could produce 1.5 million drones in 2024. In January he said it would be 4.5 million this year. Now, Ukraine has the capacity to produce 10 million with sufficient financing, but quality is more relevant than the number. Kyiv now has the ability to export some drones. Source-Kyiv Post-Anders Aslund
