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Zelenskyy Approves New Framework for Ukrainian Weapons Exports to Allies
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![Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko]( "Photo of Katherina Popilnichenko")
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Ukraine has proposed special agreements to its partners for the production and supply of Ukrainian weaponry. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on April 28 that these deals will focus on drones, missiles, shells, and other essential military equipment.
The initiative also includes software programs and the integration of Ukrainian technology with the defense systems of partner nations.
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The President recently approved a plan to simplify the process for businesses by implementing automatic export permits. This measure is intended to allow Ukrainian defense companies to enter the markets of allied nations. However, the government has made it clear that weapons will not be supplied to countries that cooperate with the Russian Federation.
A key condition of the export policy is that the Ukrainian military must have the priority right to receive necessary equipment first. Any items sent abroad will consist of surplus production that exceeds the requirements of Ukraine’s own defense forces. At present, the production capacity for certain types of weapons in Ukraine exceeds domestic demand by 50 percent due to significant state investment and international cooperation.
The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine will oversee the export process to ensure that the needs of the defense forces are met before any sales occur.
The Ministry of Defense and the General Staff will be responsible for determining the specific volumes required for the military. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with intelligence services, will identify countries where exports are prohibited to prevent Ukrainian technology from reaching the hands of the aggressor state.
President Zelenskyy stated, “Today I approved the directions for such interstate work and the processing of automatic permits for businesses regarding the export of weapons.” He added, “The order of actions is absolutely clear: at the interstate level, based on the principle of reciprocity, we define the framework for security work with a corresponding agreement, then the process begins at the level of state institutions and manufacturers.”
Regarding the expansion of the domestic industry, Zelenskyy noted, “Ukrainian companies will receive a real opportunity to enter the market of partner countries, provided our military has the right to receive the necessary volume of weapons first.”
He also emphasized the international interest in Ukraine’s military developments, stating, “Currently, our security expertise and weapons, which have been tested by modern war, are of interest to all partners who are capable of ensuring a real level of protection for national statehood and human life.”
The government and the National Security and Defense Council have been instructed to provide further details to the public about how the export process will function.
In April 2026, Ukraine signed the "Drone Deal" with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to export its battle-tested drone interception technology. These agreements focused on providing cost-effective solutions against aerial threats and establishing joint production lines. President Zelenskyy noted that the partnership allowed allies to use $10,000 interceptors instead of multi-million dollar missiles.
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