The provision of U.S. aid remains vital in the near to medium term to help Ukraine build its defense industrial base (DIB), the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reportedin their daily assessment on Feb. 6. Ukraine aims to focus on localization of domestic arms production in 2024, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in December 2023. According to Umerov, Ukraine is allocating Hr 255 billion ($6.8 billion) of the state’s budget to military production next year. “The success of Ukraine’s efforts to build its DIB depends on Ukraine’s ability to liberate strategically vital areas occupied by Ru…