National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov backs the decision to make by the Verkhovna Rada allowing access of western partners to the privatization and investment projects in Ukrainian defense industry.

"Without attracting large investment and new technologies in our defense industry we would fail to protect our country well and resist to competition on the international arms markets. All restrictions in the issue do not benefit the country's security and they should be lifted," he said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that today Ukraine is interested in modern technologies in production of high-accuracy lethal arms that would allow quickly bring the quality of arms of our armed forces to the new level.

"For example, missile equipment. Today we have to produce all components of missiles made by us ourselves. U.S. or European partners have some components of better quality. Cooperation in the issue would allow us to bring production of effective lethal arms to the higher level. The similar situation is with production of armored vehicles or military transport aircraft," Turchynov said.

He expressed hope that the Verkhovna Rada would support the decision on participation of strategic partners who are NATO members in the privatization and investment projects in Ukrainian defense industry.

"We are interested in both the creation of new production facilities and investment in leading enterprises of our defense industry," he said.

Asked about the progress in talks with western partners on the provision of lethal arms to Ukraine, he said that there is progress, but there are no arms. "Unfortunately, this is the problem," he said.