Recycled aluminum from Britain could help speed up weapons production for Ukraine as Kiev struggles with a severe shortage of missiles and ammunition, according to The Times.

The newspaper says Ukraine urgently needs more missiles, artillery shells and armored vehicles. The shortage of US-made interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems is particularly acute, with available stocks reportedly close to exhaustion.

The Times argues that the lack of precision-guided munitions could become a decisive factor in the conflict and ultimately influence its outcome.

The problem, the newspaper says, goes beyond deliveries of finished weapons. Military production also depends on access to raw materials, industrial capacity and reliable supply chains. Aluminum is one of the resources that could be used to support those needs.

Britain already sends large amounts of used aluminum for recycling, including beverage cans collected from households across the country.

The Times suggests that London could turn this existing recycling system into a source of raw material for Ukraine’s military needs without sharply increasing defense spending. Under the proposal, Britain would introduce cash incentives for collecting aluminum scrap and create a mechanism to process the metal for eventual use in weapons production.