Russia says Ukraine is a 'gold mine' for the US military industrial complex

According to TASS news agency on December 21, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said that the largest US defense corporations are making the most money from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Western arms supplies to Ukraine, diplomat Nebezia mentioned: “US Senator Lindsey Graham once called the military campaign in Ukraine a good investment for the United States. This is not a figurative meaning. Ukraine has really become a gold mine for the military-industrial complex of the Anglo-Saxon countries and their allies. But American companies have benefited the most from the conflict. In 2023, half of all arms sales went to 41 US corporations, of which the 100 largest received $ 517 billion - equivalent to 50% of global revenue from arms sales.”

Mr Nebenzia added that the total turnover of the world’s 100 largest arms manufacturers, according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute, amounted to $632 billion. “It would be naive to hope that profit-seekers would refuse such a lucrative deal,” the Russian diplomat said.

The Russian permanent representative also pointed out the close ties of the US military-industrial complex with the Kiev government and its lobbying structures. “For example, the BGR Government Agency, which represents the interests of Ukraine, cooperates with the largest US arms manufacturer, Raytheon,” Nebenzia said.

According to Mr. Nebenzia, in addition to exporting weapons, American companies are using the conflict as a reason to increase the prices of their products domestically, which negatively affects the welfare of the American people. Nebenzia said that the current US administration is cooperating with these corporations, regardless of the damage to the American people.