Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov dismissed Western fears that Ukraine could become a source of arms smuggling, but acknowledged the need to expand weapons tracing systems, the Financial Times reported.

"We need to survive. We have no reason to smuggle weapons out of Ukraine," Reznikov told the Financial Times.

The minister pointed out that some of Ukraine's allies have sent military representatives into the country to monitor the flow of their donated weapons, and suggested that others follow suit. He stressed that Ukrainians are extremely interested in keeping all of the $10 billion worth of equipment donated by Western allies.

Reznikov said that Ukraine uses NATO software acquired in 2019 to track the purpose and use of weapons provided by the West that NATO allies can access. However, it is pointed out that it had a limited number of licenses and trained users, which Kiev is now trying to increase. "We need to move forward quickly. We understand that," the minister added.

Reznikov said the system, which is currently managed only centrally, will be expanded to the brigade and possibly battalion level. Kiev will consult with its partners on how far to deploy it. Ukraine is also developing two other tracking systems that will operate in parallel with NATO software.

Reznikov stressed that there is no chance that heavy weapons systems, such as 155-mm howitzers or missile systems supplied by the U.S., will be stolen. According to him, they all had GPS trackers and Western military satellites could also track large equipment.

The publication points out that Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and lightweight kamikaze drones are of particular concern to Western officials, given their portability. Reznikov said that while they were not tracked by GPS, they were intended only for Ukraine's special forces and, therefore, were under strict control.

"I discuss it with partners, I discuss it with other defense ministers -- do you have concerns? They say no," Reznikov added.

The minister pointed out that Western-supplied weapons, which have a longer range and are more accurate than the old Soviet-era Ukrainian artillery, have helped reduce the death toll among Ukrainian servicemen in eastern Donbass, which averaged 100 per day in May.

Any attempt by Ukraine to push back Russian forces in a counteroffensive would require more missiles and artillery, he said.

"By the end of this year there will be a major change on the battlefield in favor of Ukraine. I hope that this year we will see a counteroffensive campaign, and [that] it will be successful," Reznikov pointed out.