Zelensky welcomes missile partnership with Japan

Ukraine is interested in cooperating with Japan's Mitsubishi, which holds a license to manufacture missiles for the Patriot air defense system and has experience in establishing such production.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said this while answering journalists' questions on Thursday, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

Asked whether Ukraine was interested in cooperating with Mitsubishi, Zelensky said: "We know what Mitsubishi does. It has demonstrated a very high standard in producing missiles for the Patriot system. It is probably the strongest example today of how, after obtaining a U.S. license, a company can establish its own anti-ballistic missile production. We would certainly like to see them in Ukraine. We would welcome an exchange of experience, but that depends on the willingness of the Japanese side."

The president also noted that Ukraine has great respect for Japan, its technologies, and its achievements.

"We are ready to share our own developments and technologies. I am confident that we will have a common vision in many areas," he said.

As reported, in the second half of April, the Japanese government, as part of strengthened security cooperation with partner countries, formally approved revisions to its so-called Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology, effectively lifting restrictions on the export of Japanese-made defense equipment, including lethal weapons.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine