Zelenskyy says Ukraine to begin arms exports after agreement on state level arrangements

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday announced the country will begin exporting weapons, saying that all key details of the process have already been agreed upon at the level of state institutions.

“Our security expertise and weapons, tested in modern warfare, are now of interest to all partners who can ensure a truly effective level of protection of national sovereignty and human life,” he said.

The President noted that partners supporting Ukraine have been offered a special cooperation framework known as “Drone Deals”, designed to regulate agreements on weapons production and supply.

He explained that the procedure will be based on intergovernmental agreements and mutual consent.

“The procedure is absolutely clear: at the interstate level, based on the principle of mutual agreement, we define the framework of security cooperation through relevant agreements, and then the process continues at the level of government institutions and manufacturers,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukrainian companies will be able to enter partner markets on the condition that Ukraine’s armed forces are first supplied with the necessary quantities of weapons.

He also noted that in some categories Ukraine currently has surplus production capacity, reaching up to 50 per cent, which he attributed to state investment in the defence industry and cooperation with international partners.

“Tere is a serious challenge in ensuring that our technologies and weapons do not fall into Russian hands,” Zelenskyy said.

He added that Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council will coordinate export processes to ensure that the primary focus remains on meeting the needs of Ukraine’s defence forces. Any surplus production beyond domestic requirements, he said, could be directed to export markets.

According to Zelensky, the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff will define the exact volume of weapons required by Ukraine’s armed forces.