Ukraine opens arms exports, Zelenskyy says
Reuters
Ukraine is launching exports
of weapons it produces, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on April 28, adding
that the government has completed the necessary work at the institutional level
to begin deliveries.
“We have agreed on all the details at the level of our state bodies,” Zelenskyy said.
“Our security expertise and weapons, tested by modern war, are of interest to partners that can ensure a real level of protection for national sovereignty and people’s lives.”
Zelenskyy said Kyiv has proposed a special cooperation format, called Drone Deals, that would cover production and supply agreements for drones, missiles, shells, and other weapons, and the integration of Ukrainian defense technologies with partner systems. The plan includes automatic permits for businesses to simplify the export process.
“The sequence of actions is clear: at the interstate level, on the basis of reciprocity, a corresponding agreement defines the framework for security work; then the process begins at the level of state institutions and manufacturers,” he said.
“We are simplifying bureaucratic procedures, maintaining an adequate level of export control and launching practical measures for companies.”
Zelenskyy said Ukrainian companies will have real opportunities to reach international markets, but prioritizing the needs of the Ukrainian military.
“For some types of weapons, Ukraine’s production surplus reaches 50%, and that is a direct result of our state investments in the defense industry and our cooperation with partners,” he said.
Zelenskyy also ordered the Foreign Ministry and intelligence
services to draw up a list of countries to which Ukraine will not export
weapons because of their cooperation with Russia. He called preventing
Ukrainian technologies and weapons from falling into Russian hands “a serious
challenge.” The National Security and Defense Council will coordinate export
processes to ensure national defense needs are met first, he said.
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