Washington, 9 December 2023 (dpa/MIA) — The governments of the United States and Ukraine plan to work together more closely on weapons production in order "to support Ukraine's fight for freedom and security," the US Department of Commerce announced on Friday.

The two countries have signed a statement of intent on "co-production and technical data exchange," the press release states.

The agreement should cover the urgent needs of the Ukrainian army in the areas of air defence systems, repair and maintenance as well as the production of ammunition.

The deal results from a conference in Washington this week attended by more than 300 representatives of US and Ukrainian industry and government.

The US also established a team bringing together the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce, so as to support industry and other partners seeking guidance on potential deals as well as export requirements for Ukraine’s defence industry, the Department of Commerce said.

Washington and industrial partners are providing Ukraine with technical data to improve the country's old air defence systems with Western munitions, the department added.

The US is considered Ukraine's most important ally in its defence against Russia's war. Since the beginning of the war in February 2022, the US government has provided billions in military aid to Ukraine.

However, Congress is currently unable to agree on a new aid package due to disputes between President Joe Biden's Democrats and the Republicans.

According to US government calculations, the funds previously approved by Congress for Ukraine will be completely used up by the end of the year.

But if the West backs down over financial support for the resistance against the forces of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainians face “mortal danger,” Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska has warned.

Zelenska argued that people in her country will be left to die if the world gets tired of providing support, in an interview with the BBC, as Britain presses US Republicans to agree to send aid to Kyiv.

In a diplomatic mission to the US, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned US Republicans that blocking fresh financial backing would be a “Christmas present” for Putin.

Republicans in the US Congress this week blocked a key bill that would have provided billions more in funding for military assistance.

Western allies are growing increasingly concerned about the crucial support for the fight against Russia amid the possibility of former president Donald Trump returning to the White House.

Speaking to the BBC's flagship Sunday political show, Zelenska said: “We really need the help. In simple words, we cannot get tired of this situation, because if we do, we die.

“And if the world gets tired, they will simply let us die.”