Ukraine to Start Arms Exports with New Drone Deal Legal Framework

‘The export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality,’ Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (Photo by General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine announced on Tuesday it is gearing up to start exporting arms through new “Drone Deals” aimed at scaling up defence production and deepening military-industrial ties with foreign partners. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president, confirmed that he has greenlighted the development of automatic permits aimed at simplifying bureaucratic procedures for businesses involved in arms exports. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “The export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality, we have approved all the details at the level of our state institutions,” he said. The deals are aimed at partners from “the Middle East and the Gulf, Europe, and the Caucasus,” the president stressed on X, adding that “a proposal is also on the table for our American partners.” The Drone Deal format was first introduced by Zelenskyy during a series of bilateral meetings in major European capitals in early April. In Rome, the  Ukrainian president stressed  that closer integration between Ukrainian and Italian defence companies could drive technological progress, increase industrial capacity, and create jobs in both countries. To prevent Ukrainian technology from ending up in Russian hands, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and intelligence services have been tasked with compiling a list of countries to which weapons exports will not be permitted due to their cooperation with Moscow. Other Topics of Interest Why Putin Wants a May 9 Ceasefire in Ukraine Victory Day remains the most politically important holiday in modern Russia and occupies a central role in Putin’s wartime messaging. European countries are  increasingly striking joint production deals  with Ukraine, particularly in the drone sector, as Kyiv’s ability to rapidly produce affordable battlefield hardware improves. Under this type of agreement, Ukraine plans to promote the production and supply of drones, missiles, ammunition, and other in-demand weapons, military equipment, software, and integration with partners’ defence systems. The exports will not come at the expense of national supply, Zelenskyy stressed. They will take place “provided that the military has the right to receive the necessary volume of weapons first.” “Exports are drawn exclusively from verified surplus. That condition is non-negotiable and embedded in the framework’s legal architecture,” according to a statement shared by the defence ministry, which noted that “in certain production segments, Ukraine’s defence industry has reached up to 50% surplus capacity.” Euractiv is a European news website focused on EU policies. It was founded in 1999 by the French media publisher Christophe Leclercq. The website's headquarters and central editorial staff are located in Brussels, with offices in Paris and Berlin.