According to reports by AFP News Agency on Saturday, June 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused companies in several Western and Asian countries of supplying Russia with critical machine tools used in the production of weapons, calling on Kyiv’s allies to strengthen enforcement of sanctions and close loopholes in global supply chains.
Speaking in comments made public on Saturday, Zelensky alleged that firms based in Germany, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and Japan along with at least one company from the United States have continued to provide Russia with industrial equipment since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“The Russian Federation receives machine tools from some countries machine tools that they use to manufacture weapons,” Zelensky said. “We have passed on all this information to all countries, our partners, everyone. We strongly urge everyone to impose sanctions on these companies.”
While Zelensky acknowledged that the majority of the machine tools entering Russia originate from China, he emphasized that “dozens of Western companies” are also complicit, directly or indirectly, in aiding Moscow’s arms industry.
Ukraine has consistently raised concerns that international sanctions imposed on Russia are not being effectively enforced, allowing the Kremlin to procure critical technologies and components through third-party countries or shell companies. Kyiv has also documented Western-origin parts in Russian missiles, drones, and other military hardware recovered on the battlefield.
According to Zelensky, the flow of such industrial tools and components has enabled Russia to maintain and expand its capacity to produce precision-guided munitions and other advanced weaponry, prolonging the war and increasing the toll on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
“This isn’t just about economics,” Zelensky warned. “This is about real lives. Every piece of equipment sent to Russia that ends up in a missile is a weapon used to kill Ukrainians and destroy our cities.”
The Ukrainian government has shared detailed intelligence with its partners, identifying companies involved and urging immediate action to prevent further transfers. Ukrainian officials are pressing for tighter export controls, broader sanctions packages, and accountability measures targeting firms that breach or circumvent restrictions.
The revelations come amid growing frustration in Kyiv over delays in Western military aid and political hesitations in sanctioning countries or corporations that continue to engage in business with Russia. Zelensky’s appeal adds fresh urgency to ongoing international discussions about tightening the sanctions regime and closing critical loopholes that allow Russia to fuel its war machine.
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