Although Ukraine reinstated a comprehensive arms export system last fall, domestic defense manufacturers have yet to secure any international sales due to the absence of finalized contracts, according to Oleksandr Kamyshin, Presidential Advisor on Strategic Issues, in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.
Kamyshin explained that exporting weapons requires formal agreements with foreign governments, a process far more complex than it may appear. Purchasing Ukrainian military equipment involves adapting partner countries’ military doctrines, performing extensive testing, and establishing new procurement protocols.
“Take Poland as an example,” Kamyshin said. “They must decide to replace traditional purchases like mortars with modern systems, such as FPV drones. This essentially upends their existing procurement framework.”
These adjustments can take a year or longer, meaning projections of $2–3 billion in potential arms exports this year are likely too optimistic. Contracts of that scale would have needed to be signed in the previous year to meet such expectations.
Oleksandr Kamyshin also highlighted ongoing coordination efforts among government bodies, including the Cabinet of Ministers, the National Security and Defense Council, intelligence agencies, and domestic manufacturers. These discussions are focused on aligning positions regarding the level of export duties and creating a smoother framework for foreign sales.
