Ukraine asks allies to allocate 0.25% of GDP to boost its weapon production

FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy carries flowers to pay tribute to victims, who were killed during Russian drone and missile strikes on Tuesday, at the site of a damaged apartment building, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 19, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on Ukraine's Western partners to allocate 0.25% of their GDP to helping Kyiv ramp-up weapons production and said the country plans to sign agreements this summer to start exporting weapon production technologies.

In remarks released for publication by his office on Saturday, Zelenskiy said Ukraine was in talks with Denmark, Norway, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania to launch joint weapon production.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk. Writing by Olena Harmash. Editing by Mark Potter)