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Kiev to start producing more of its own weapons as US Congress blocks additional aid — WSJ

The newspaper writes that Ukraine will need years to rebuild its defense industry

NEW YORK, December 7. /TASS/. Ukraine wants to wean itself off Western weapons and start producing more of its own armaments as a bill seeking to provide more aid to Kiev has been stalled in the US Congress, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The report said it will take years for Ukraine to rebuild its defense industry. Western manufacturers are unlikely to produce the most advanced weapons in Ukraine, the WSJ said.

It said domestic production of weapons is especially crucial for Ukraine now that resistance to approving an additional aid package for Kiev is rising in the US. Western arms inventories are dwindling, the WSJ said, while there are no signs yet that the conflict will end soon.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan earlier said the US will be unable to continue supplying weapons and military equipment to Ukraine after it runs out of additional funds for assistance to Kiev that were allocated earlier by the US Congress.

Earlier, news reports said that the bill to send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan did not pass a procedural vote in the Senate of the US Congress. The initiative provided for the allocation of an additional $106 billion, including $61 billion for assistance to Ukraine. The motion that didn’t pass the vote called for a start of debate on the bill. The senators rejected it in a 49-51 vote, while it needed to muster the support of 60 lawmakers to pass.