04/20/2025
Europe is currently considering an alternative aid option to supplying weapons to Ukraine. Investments in the Ukrainian military-industrial complex could be a more effective way of supporting it.
In particular, considerable hopes are placed on the development of the Ukrainian “Bogdan” self-propelled guns and on cooperation between Europe and Ukraine, which “could well represent the future of the country’s arms industry,” The Washington Post writes .
The publication’s journalists visited the tests of the Ukrainian self-propelled howitzer “Bogdan” at one of the Ukrainian training grounds. They emphasized that the production of this weapon is increasing during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. If in 2023 the Ukrainian industry could produce no more than six such self-propelled guns per month, then in 2025 this figure increased to more than 20 units per month. Partnership with Ukraine’s European allies plays a significant role in this.
“On April 8, Europe announced a new payment of 1 billion euros – from windfall profits from frozen Russian assets – to build additional howitzers. This is the largest amount yet allocated specifically for Ukrainian artillery production – part of more than 20 billion euros that Europe will allocate to the country’s defense sector over the next year, instead of simply sending weapons,” The Washington Post notes.
There is a simple logic to such investments: such a mechanism accelerates the delivery of howitzers to the front, and besides, it is not only cheaper, but also helps keep the Ukrainian economy afloat.
“First, it’s cheaper. Second, it’s faster. Third, you reduce transport and logistics costs and time. Fourth, it contributes to economic growth,” explained EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Maternova.
Given the radical U.S. turnabout in aid to Ukraine under Donald Trump, Europe has found itself faced with the need to compensate as much as possible for the possible loss of American aid. In particular, this issue is acute in key issues, primarily air defense. However, the EU is not sure that it will be able to fully cover these needs of Ukraine. That is why the search for optimal ways to continue aid is ongoing.
As one European official told The Washington Post, more and more countries are considering a model of pouring money into Ukraine’s defense industry instead of sending weapons, offering a faster route as Europe’s own stockpiles are running low after several years of sending weapons to Kyiv.
“The strategy also allows NATO countries to use Ukraine as a testing ground for weapons development, such as drones, in which they do not have such experience, the official said. The 155mm Bogdana, with an impressive 25-mile range, is the first Ukrainian howitzer of NATO caliber, which can help guarantee the country’s security. “This is a win-win option,” the European official added. “It’s cheaper for us. They have to produce. And the Ukrainians teach us a lot,” the publication writes.
The Washington Post also notes that, despite the ever-increasing impact of unmanned technologies on the battlefield, “artillery remains a key part of the conflict.” It was the supply of howitzers to the front lines by the allies that helped Ukrainian soldiers repel the offensive of the Russian Federation, which had a significant advantage in personnel and weapons, at the beginning of the full-scale war.
“Ukrainian soldiers are now proficient with artillery, which they can manufacture themselves without relying on other countries. Compared to drones, howitzers can more effectively suppress trench operations, stop assaults, and destroy the enemy,” writes The Washington Post.
As Arsen Zhumadilov, director of the Defense Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defense, noted in a conversation with journalists of the publication, Ukraine has achieved “huge successes” in the production of NATO-caliber weapons after the Russian invasion in 2022 thanks to the joint efforts of the government and private arms manufacturers.
He said the increase in artillery production has helped the country become more self-sufficient. More than 85 percent of the spare parts needed for the Bogdana are produced in Ukraine, a figure expected to rise to 95 percent by the end of the year.
“Currently, Ukraine is producing self-propelled howitzers in volumes that have no analogues in Europe,” Zhumadilov emphasized.
He added that this is important because “there is a direct and close connection between our ability to fight and the security of Europe. If Ukraine falls, Europe will not be able to stand up to the Russians as well as we can.”
The Washington Post adds that the European Commission is currently trying to unlock hundreds of billions of euros to strengthen the continent’s defense capabilities in the coming years through loans and easing budget rules. Part of the plan is a 150 billion euro loan program to accelerate the bloc’s joint procurement and development of weapons, which is mainly focused on systems made in the EU, Norway or Ukraine.
“We are strengthening Ukraine in many different ways. One way is to support them in building their own capabilities. The support we provide to Ukraine is not a one-way street, it is a win-win situation. The knowledge we gain will benefit both us and Ukraine. We will also learn from it,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized at a press conference at NATO headquarters on April 11.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the new fiscal space could also allow EU countries to invest in or join forces with arms manufacturers in Ukraine to better integrate Ukrainian defense production with European industry.
“Meanwhile, some countries have sought more first-hand experience, sending unarmed soldiers to training camps in western Ukraine to learn combat skills – a sign of deepening anxiety on the continent about the future,” the report said.
In particular, the other day the commander of the Danish army announced his intentions to send more soldiers to Ukraine this year so that they can study with the Ukrainian military.
“Ukraine is ahead of everyone and uses Western systems more effectively than Western countries can use them. Strategic integration of the Ukrainian defense sector with the European one would also contribute to security in Europe as a whole,” says Nico Lange, a former employee of the German Ministry of Defense who now works at the Center for European Policy Analysis.
As a reminder, it was previously reported that Finland has classified the supply of weapons to Ukraine . The Ministry of Defense stated that this is due to the changing situation in the field of global security.
“First, it’s cheaper. Second, it’s faster. Third, you reduce transport and logistics costs and time. Fourth, it contributes to economic growth,”
Can’t argue with those advantages.
Fifth, Europe can’t get its ass in gear to save its life.
Fifth, it will help Ukraine with their admittance into NATO 🙂
Europe are like a bear waking up from hibernation. Slow and lethargic for months, but eventually they wake up.
The bad part is that the lethargy has not been for months, but years.