The Russian Ambassador at Large to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rodion Miroshnik described the Ukrainian initiative to export drones as a “cover for corrupt practices and laundering of European funds for weapons“. He stated this in an interview with TASS, reports Focus.
In his words, the so-called "drone deals" promoted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are a "fictitious project" that creates the impression of Ukraine's real production capacity.
Miroshnik claims that such initiatives can be used as a channel for redistributing significant financial resources provided by European countries for military assistance, some of which are "returned in various forms as gratitude to political circles supporting Kiev's financing."
He adds that, according to the Russian position, such schemes aim to strengthen support for Ukraine by creating the image of a self-developing defense industry.
For his part, Volodymyr Zelensky has previously stated that the export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality. According to him, Kiev offers partner countries special formats of cooperation, including the production and supply of drones, missiles, artillery ammunition, software and integration with defense systems.