By the end of the year Ukraine will operate ten export centers in Europe focused on defense technology, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Sunday:
“It is very encouraging that exports are being launched… The encouraging part is that today Europe’s security is based on [Ukraine’s] technologies and on drones. Some talk about a ‘shield’ or other concepts of protection — there are several different projects in Europe — but most of them will be built primarily on Ukrainian technologies and Ukrainian specialists.”
Ukraine has hinted for months that it would loosen its export control regulations — a critical point for the investibility and profitability of Ukrainian defense tech startups.
Zelenskyy speaks at Kyiv Aviation Institute
With this change, new markets open up for Ukrainian companies. Specifically, Zelenskyy name-checked Germany, the United Kingdom, the Baltics and the Nordics as likely places for these representative offices.
“By mid-February, we will already see the production of our drones in Germany. I will receive the first drone — from a production line operating in the United Kingdom,” he said. “The production lines are up and running. All of this is Ukrainian technology.”
The tension in this change stems from a public concern that Ukraine may send needed weapons abroad. In an apparent effort to head off this concern, Zelenskyy said that only products produced in excess of Ministry of Defense needs would be sold abroad.
“Everything beyond that may be exported — you can export, earn money, share with partners, and develop this direction,” he said.
Ukraine’s announcement took place as Zelenskyy answered a student’s question at the Kyiv Aviation Institute.
A version of Zelenskyy’s announcement on Telegram.
For the full announcement, see the embedded video below (in Ukrainian).
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