Ukraine wants to join the development of a single platform for EU armored vehicles

 Ukraine wants to join the development and production of a single EU armored vehicle platform.

Mykola Tochytskyi, Ukraine's representative to the EU, told DW about this.
We are talking about cooperation under the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) program.

Ukraine wants to join projects for the development and production of military equipment. In particular, to create a single platform for infantry fighting vehicles, amphibious armored personnel carriers and light armored vehicles.

Ukraine can also offer production facilities for assembling equipment, for example, in Kharkiv.

"Let's be honest, it will be cheaper here," Tochytskyi said.

However, this possibility is in question, as one of the conditions for a third country's participation in PESCO is to prevent any dependence of EU countries on a non-EU country.

Preliminary consultations on our country's participation in the project have already begun, now Ukraine will work on preparing the application.

In addition to participating in the creation of a single base for armored vehicles, our country is also interested in about 20 projects under PESCO.

In particular, this is one of the largest military projects - military mobility. It was joined by all 25 PESCO member states. It should simplify and standardize the movement of troops and equipment across national borders.

Another project of interest to official Kyiv is a platform for exchanging information on and responding to cyber threats.

It is still unknown when our state will submit them, as well as the approximate terms of implementation of these projects.