Article 12 — Purpose

1. The assistance to support Ukraine’s defence industrial capacities shall aim to enable Ukraine to carry out urgent and major public investments in support of the Ukrainian defence industry and its integration into the European defence industry in response to and following the current crisis situation. That assistance shall contribute, in particular, to the reconstruction, recovery and modernisation of the Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base, with a view to increasing its defence industrial readiness, taking into account its gradual future integration into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and through support for the timely availability of defence products and other products for defence purposes, through cooperation between the Union and Ukraine. 2. The activities, expenditures and measures to support Ukraine’s defence industrial capacities shall be related to defence products or other products for defence purposes and shall aim to: (a) speed up the adjustment of the Ukrainian defence industry to structural changes, including through the creation and ramp-up of its manufacturing capacities as well as related supporting activities; (b) improve the timely availability of defence products or other products for defence purposes for Ukraine, including through the reduction of their delivery lead time, reservation of manufacturing slots or stockpiling of defence products or other products for defence purposes, intermediate products or raw materials; or (c) enhance cross-border cooperation between the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and the Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base, taking into account the defence industrial reinforcement and defence procurement needs of Ukraine, allowing for interchangeability of defence products or other products for defence purposes manufactured by the Ukrainian defence industry and the European defence industry.