Russia is capable of substituting the defense products it imports from Ukraine within a period of up to two and a half years, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Regarding our defense cooperation with Ukrainian partners. It is of
great importance for the Russian defense industry and key for the
Ukrainian one. What is the difference? The difference is that Russia and
its defense industry are capable, both financially and technologically,
to carry out the so-called import substitution,” Putin said at a
session of the council of lawmakers.
Depending on the type of products, this will require between 18 months and two and a half years, the president said.
The volume of funding is already clear, Putin said. “Strange as it
may seem, it is not that big and is absolutely acceptable to the
budget,” he said.
“Meaning that in this case we may have to move our government defense
order slightly to the right, in the financial speak, but only
insignificantly. This will not require a review of the government
defense order. Certain funds will be allocated there too, and we have
the funds in government reserves. They will be enough both to resolve
Crimea’s current problems and for these purposes (import-substitution),”
the president said.
