Ukraine has officially opened arms exports, aiming to demonstrate to international partners the effectiveness of systems that have been tested in real combat conditions. This was announced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Combat-Tested Weapons
According to the head of state, Ukraine is ready not only to share advanced developments that have already proven themselves on the battlefield but also to increase joint defense production with partners. This will allow other countries to acquire modern and reliable means of protection without spending time on development from scratch.
“We have decided to open arms exports. These are powerful systems tested in real warfare. We are also ready to scale up our defense production together with strong partners so that their protection is modern and reliable. You do not need to start this race from scratch – we are ready to share what has already proven itself in real defense,” Zelensky said during his speech at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
Focus on Developing the Defense Industry
The President noted that, despite many countries remaining indifferent, it is important to support states that are currently in a state of war. Zelensky emphasized that the fate of prisoners of war, abducted children, and hostages, as well as the further course of the war funded by Russia, depends on the decisions of the global community.
Recently, the president announced plans to partially restore arms exports and sell those samples that are in surplus in Ukraine. As Zelensky explained, “managed exports” will allow for increased production of drones and other systems for frontline needs. He also highlighted that as of early September, about 60% of the weapons used by the Ukrainian military are produced in Ukraine.
Serhiy Honcharov, Executive Director of the National Association of Defense Industry of Ukraine, noted that exports could become a powerful incentive for recovery, modernization, and increased production following Russian attacks on industrial capacities. In his opinion, with proper regulation, the export of military products during wartime will contribute to the development of the industry and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.