 France, Germany, making weapons in Ukraine French and German defence companies are setting up local shops in Ukraine for arms maintenance a first step towards manufacturing weapons in the country according to political media outlet Germany's Federal Cartel Office gave the green light to a proposed joint venture between Rheinmetall, a German arms maker and the Ukrainian defence industry, a Ukrainian state-owned defence group France's Armed Forces Minister, Sébastien Leconou, travelled to Kiev this week with about 20 French defence contractors reportedly including Thales, MBDA, Nexter and Arcus to facilitate partnerships with Ukrainian officials Ukrainian officials met directly with defence companies to sign contracts without going through Western governments explore joint production opportunities and provide specific input about their needs on the ground in the fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal has said he is convinced that in the future Ukraine will become a new centre for the production of high-quality military products in Europe the head of government said this during the first International Defence Industries Forum in Kiev everyone is aware of the risks but those who think strategically also understand that Ukraine will become a new military production centre in Europe Today we are already cooperating with partner countries on the restoration of Western military equipment in addition the issue of creating a closed cycle for the production of weapons, military equipment and ammunition in Ukraine is being worked out we are creating joint ventures and service centres which helps gradually integrate the Ukrainian defence industry into the industrial production and industrial environment of partner countries Shmihal said