Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday defended his idea of joint production of weapons to support a vision of peace.
”We are interested in a co-production with you and all our partners. Our government team will provide you with the details. We propose to organize a special Ukraine-Balkans defense industry forum in Kiev or one of your capitals,” Zelensky said during the two-day Ukraine-Southeast Europe summit with leaders of the Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia and Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Moldova and Romania in the Albanian capital of Tirana.
He said that about 500 defense companies operate in Ukraine in different regions.
”Each of them adds strength. But that is not enough to convince Putin (Russian President Vladimir). We note the problems with ammunition supplies that affect the situation on the battlefield,” Zelensky said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Zelensky met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Zelensky and Rama signed a cooperation agreement.
Vucic said after the meeting that Ukraine was one of the few countries that could talk about territorial integrity.
“I believe that we will continue to build friendly relations with Ukraine which has not recognized the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo,” Vucic said.
NATO members Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Romania have joined Western sanctions against Russia and sent weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
Serbia and Croatia have significant arms industries in the region.
But Serbia refuses to impose sanctions on Russia.