SIPRI: Ukraine Became the World's Largest Arms Importer from 2021-2025
According to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Ukraine became the world's largest importer of conventional weapons from 2021–2025, accounting for 9.7% of the global arms import volume, compared to just 0.1% in 2016–2020.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 36 countries have supplied various main battle weapons to Kyiv.
The top three weapon suppliers to Ukraine are:
- United States (41% of Ukraine's arms imports)
- Germany (14%)
- Poland (9.4%)
In 2025, the scale of arms supplies to Ukraine was significantly lower than in 2023 and 2024, mainly because the United States reduced its military aid to Ukraine in 2025. At the same time, the U.S. has greatly increased the secrecy of its arms exports to Ukraine, making it difficult to provide a reliable assessment.
In 2025, at least 25 countries agreed to purchase main battle weapons from the United States and transfer them to Ukraine. These weapons, including air defense missiles and guided bombs, were counted in the U.S. arms export data by SIPRI.
The top five arms recipients globally from 2021–2025 are: Ukraine, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan.
Previously, Trump had accused Biden of sending too many weapons to Ukraine. But he also boasted that he had successfully replenished these stocks, and currently the U.S. has "almost unlimited" weapon reserves, sufficient to "permanently" continue the war.
Under the ongoing large-scale attacks by Russia, Ukraine's air defense systems may face a shortage of Patriot missiles.
Additionally, the tense relationship between the U.S. and Iran also poses a risk of U.S. weapons being redirected from Ukraine to the Persian Gulf region.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859184733737996/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.