And while the government lifted the ban on defense exports last September, these exports were still severely limited by a reluctant government, with Zelenskyy even lashing out at some defense producers that struck deals with foreign countries. “I know about some 10 factories, built in different parts of the world behind the state’s back,” Zelenskyy said last month, during a video call with several reporters, also attended by POLITICO.
Tuesday’s announcement puts formal procedures in place to finally make homegrown defense exports a reality.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv had proposed to its partners “a special form of cooperation,” where Ukraine would supply a surplus of drones and other weapons, as well as battle expertise, in return for partners opening Ukrainian weapons production factories in their countries, sharing software, and integrating with Ukrainian weapons systems. Zelenskyy described the form as “drone deals.”
According to the new rules, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will coordinate export processes and make sure the needs of Ukraine’s Defense and Security Forces are met first.
Only surplus production — what manufacturers can produce beyond the state order in Ukraine — will be allowed for export.
Countries will first have to define a framework for security cooperation with Ukraine on the principle of reciprocity through defense deals. Then the purchasing would continue through state institutions and manufacturers.