A working group on arms exports has been formed in Ukraine to address the issue of entering the global arms market. The decision was made following a meeting of the Economic Development Committee involving the Ministry of Defense, the State Service for Export Control of Ukraine, the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine, and other stakeholders. The working group will determine which countries Ukraine can export to, what weapons can be sold, and how to prevent technology leakage. MP Oleksandr Marikovskyi stated that once the working group develops a suitable mechanism, it will be turned into a legislative decision. The meeting was based on proposals from the Technological Forces of Ukraine association, which advocated for the creation of a separate body to analyze export applications for military equipment.

Contacted for comments, Marikovskyi emphasized that the opening of arms exports is necessary to address the underfunding of the Ukrainian defense industry. Currently, Ukrainian companies must obtain approval from the State Service for Export Control to conclude export contracts. Since the Russian invasion, most requests have been rejected to prioritize national interests. However, after years of war, this policy has led to negative consequences, including the outflow of major arms industry leaders. The opening of arms exports aims to alleviate the shortage of orders and increase the utilization of production capacity in the defense industry. The Technological Forces of Ukraine association conducted a survey indicating that many companies are considering moving abroad due to the lack of export opportunities. They identified the opening of exports, an increase in government orders, and the conclusion of multi-year contracts as potential reasons to stay in Ukraine.

ملخص الأخبار

• MP Oleksandr Marikovskyi emphasized that the Working Group on Arms Exports should assess state risks and establish a mechanism for Ukraine to enter the global arms market.
• The need for a separate body to analyze each application for military equipment export was proposed by the Technological Forces of Ukraine association.
• The closed export market led to negative consequences like the outflow of arms industry leaders from Ukraine, such as Skyeton, DeViRo, and Ukrspecsystems.
• A study by the Technological Forces of Ukraine revealed that 85% of surveyed companies are considering relocating abroad due to limited export opportunities.