Ukraine to Begin Exporting Weapons Under New Framework

Interest in Ukrainian weapons and battlefield‑tested technology has grown among partner nations, as Kyiv develops a framework to export surplus arms while prioritizing its own military needs. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference during a summit with the leaders of NATO’s eastern and Nordic members (B9 and Nordic countries) on June 2, 2025 in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Photo by Petras Malukas / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine has finalized all state‑level decisions needed to begin exporting domestically produced weapons , marking a significant shift in the country’s defense‑industrial policy amid the ongoing war with Russia . On Tuesday, in a statement posted on Facebook following an expanded meeting on arms exports, Zelensky said Ukrainian weapons and security expertise tested in modern warfare have drawn interest from partner countries, and that export mechanisms have now been approved at the level of state institutions, Ukrinform reported. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “The export of Ukrainian weapons will become a reality,” Zelensky said, adding that the government has proposed a special cooperation format with partner states known as “Drone Deals.” According to Zelensky, the framework will cover the production and supply of drones , missiles, ammunition , and other in‑demand weapons systems, as well as military equipment, software, integration with partners’ defense systems, and the exchange of Ukrainian technological expertise. He also stressed that Ukraine’s Armed Forces will have priority access to required weapons. The process will operate on a reciprocal interstate basis, with governments first agreeing on security cooperation frameworks before implementation moves to state institutions and manufacturers. Zelensky said the government is simplifying bureaucratic procedures while maintaining export controls and introducing automatic permit mechanisms for businesses. Other Topics of Interest EXPLAINED: Guns and Permits in Wartime Ukraine – Legally Getting Firearms in 2026 As a wave of shootings renews questions over gun access in Ukraine, here is a step-by-step explainer on who can legally buy firearms – and how easy or difficult the process is in 2026. “A surplus of production capacity in Ukraine for certain types of weapons reaches 50%, and this is a direct result of our state investment in Ukraine’s defense industry and our cooperation with partners,” he said. The president said he instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, intelligence agencies, and the Security Service of Ukraine to determine a list of countries ineligible for Ukrainian arms exports due to cooperation with Russia, citing the risk of Ukrainian technologies falling into Russian hands. The National Security and Defense Council will coordinate export processes and ensure the needs of Ukraine’s defense forces are met first, with the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff determining required volumes for domestic use. Government officials have been instructed to provide the public with detailed information on the arms export process. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.