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Ukraine was the world’s largest importer of major weaponry from 2020 to 2024, increasing its arms imports nearly 100-fold compared to 2015-2019, while Russia’s arms exports dropped by 64%.
This data comes from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), as reported by Ukrinform.
During 2020-2024, Ukraine accounted for 8.8% of global arms imports. The largest suppliers were the U.S. (45%), Germany (12%), and Poland (11%). Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, at least 35 countries have supplied Ukraine with weapons.
SIPRI analysts highlight the critical role of U.S. arms supplies to European NATO members, viewing it as a response to Russian threats. The U.S. accounted for 64% of all arms imports by European NATO countries during this period.
Overall, arms imports by European NATO members more than doubled (+105%) compared to the previous five years.
For the first time in two decades, the largest share of U.S. arms exports went to Europe (35%) rather than the Middle East (33%).
The U.S. remained the world’s top arms exporter, increasing its share to 43% by supplying major weaponry to 107 countries. France followed as the second-largest exporter (9.6%, 65 countries), with Germany (5.6%) and Italy (4.8%) trailing. China accounted for 5.9%, but political factors prevent many major importers from buying Chinese weaponry despite Beijing’s efforts to expand its arms exports.
Unlike the U.S., Russia’s arms exports sharply declined (-64%) to just 7.8% of the global market. This downturn began even before its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with exports in 2020 and 2021 significantly lower than in any year of the previous two decades.
SIPRI experts note that Russia’s two key arms markets are weakening: India is increasingly turning to other suppliers, while China is relying more on its rapidly growing domestic defense industry. Between 2020 and 2024, Russia exported major weapons to 33 countries, with two-thirds of its exports going to India (38%), China (17%), and Kazakhstan (11%).
As previously reported France will allocate an additional €195 million from frozen Russian assets’ interest earnings to produce shells and glide bombs for Mirage 2000 aircraft for Ukraine’s military needs.
Read also: Ukraine and France Approve Reconstruction Projects Under €200 Million Agreement
