Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will officially allow the export of surplus domestically produced weapons during wartime, in order to expand cooperation with allies and support the defense industry, Politico quoted him as saying.
"We have approved all the details at the level of our state institutions. "Currently, our security experience and weapons, which have been tested in modern military conditions, are of interest to all partners capable of providing a real level of protection for their statehood and the lives of their citizens," Zelensky said.
So far, Kiev has limited international defense cooperation mainly to sharing military experience, due to concerns that uncontrolled exports could lead to the loss of technology and influence.
Although the government lifted the ban on defense exports in September last year, sales have remained severely limited. Last month, Zelensky criticized manufacturers who made deals without the state's knowledge. "I know of about 10 factories built in different parts of the world behind the back of the state," he said.
The new mechanism provides for the National Security and Defense Council to coordinate exports and ensure that the needs of the Ukrainian defense and security forces are met with priority.
Only surplus production - weapons and equipment manufactured outside of state orders for Ukraine - will be allowed for export.
Zelensky announced that Kiev is offering partners a "special form of cooperation" under which Ukraine will supply surplus drones, other weapons and combat experience, and the partners will open Ukrainian arms factories, share software and integrate Ukrainian systems. He called the scheme "drone deals."
"We are simplifying bureaucratic procedures, maintaining an adequate level of export control and introducing practical operational mechanisms for companies. Ukrainian companies will get a real opportunity to enter the markets of partner countries, but our military has the right to receive the necessary amount of weapons first," Zelensky added.
Kiev will strictly monitor weapons and software to prevent Russia from gaining access to Ukrainian technologies.
"I have instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with our intelligence services and the Security Service of Ukraine, to determine the list of countries to which the export of our weapons is not possible due to their cooperation with the aggressor state," Zelensky said.
"This is a serious challenge - to prevent our technologies and weapons from falling into Russian hands," he added.