Ukrainian weapons exports will become a reality, Zelenskyy says as Ukraine offers partners Drone Deals
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting focusing on the export of Ukrainian weapons and has proposed Drone Deals to Ukraine's partners. Ukraine is also drawing up a list of countries to which exports will not be possible because of their cooperation with Russia.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "I held an expanded meeting on key issues related to the export of Ukrainian weapons. The export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality – we have approved all the details at the level of our state institutions.
Currently, our security expertise and weapons, which have been tested in modern warfare, are of interest to all partners capable of ensuring a real level of protection for their statehood and the lives of their citizens."
Details: Zelenskyy said Ukraine has offered its partners a special format of cooperation known as Drone Deals – special agreements on the production and supply of Ukrainian drones, missiles, shells and other sought-after weapons, military equipment and software, integration with partners' defence systems, as well as the provision of expertise and the technological exchange needed by Ukraine.
He also said he has approved the areas of this intergovernmental work and the development of automatic permits for businesses to export weapons.
Zelenskyy also outlined the next steps.
Quote: "At the interstate level, based on the principle of reciprocity, we define the framework for security cooperation through the relevant agreement. Then the process continues at the level of state institutions and manufacturers. We are simplifying bureaucratic procedures, maintaining an adequate level of export control, and launching practical operating mechanisms for companies."
More details: Zelenskyy said Ukrainian companies will have a genuine opportunity to enter partner countries' markets, provided that the Ukrainian military has the right to purchase the amount of weapons they need first.
Quote: "The surplus of production capacity in Ukraine for certain types of weapons reaches 50 per cent, and this is a direct result of our state investment in Ukraine's defence industry and our cooperation with partners."
More details: Zelenskyy has instructed Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, together with intelligence agencies and the Security Service of Ukraine, to determine the list of countries to which Ukrainian weapons may not be exported because of their cooperation with Russia.
The National Security and Defence Council (NSDC) will coordinate export processes and ensure that the needs of the Ukrainian defence forces are met first and only surplus weapons are exported.
The Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will determine the defence forces' needs.
Zelenskyy has also instructed government officials and the NSDC to "present to the public the necessary information on the details of our weapons export process".
Background: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office, recently said that Ukraine's defence industry cannot yet operate freely on export markets, but it can sell surplus capabilities such as naval drones.
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