The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, expressed dissatisfaction with the actions of Ukrainian defense companies that open production facilities abroad for the export of defense-related products without coordinating with the state.
This is reported by Finway
The Importance of Export Coordination During Wartime
During a conversation with journalists, Zelensky cited an example of cooperation between one of the Ukrainian companies and a Middle Eastern country. According to him, the leader of that country reported an agreement to purchase Ukrainian interceptors, but payment for them had not yet been made. The President emphasized the importance of the state’s presence in such agreements, as only then can proper control over the export of defense products be achieved.
“I spoke with the leader of one of the countries in the Middle East. He mentioned a company with which he had agreed to purchase our interceptors, but the money has not yet been paid. He said to me: ‘Explain, I cannot understand. The company is Ukrainian, but it is located in Spain. The head of this company was here in our country for a week, offering products everywhere, visiting all the offices. ‘Will you train us?’ I said: ‘No, we will not train you or anyone else if our state has not received payment for this,’” Zelensky recounted.
State Approach to the Defense Sector
Zelensky stressed that the export of weapons during wartime must be controlled, as this funding allows for the acquisition of necessary weapons for the front. The President noted that some private companies operate outside of coordination with the state, which is an incorrect approach. According to him, the success of Ukrainian drones and other equipment is ensured not only by business but also by the contributions of military personnel who test and improve these developments.
The President emphasized that only a systematic approach to air defense—integrating drones, software, and expert knowledge—guarantees the effectiveness of defense systems. He added that foreign representatives who purchase individual components often face problems due to the lack of a comprehensive solution.
Zelensky also announced that his goal is to conclude ten long-term contracts with partner countries for a minimum of ten years each, which will ensure multi-billion dollar investments in the development of the domestic defense industry. At the same time, the President warned that the emergence of a large number of uncoordinated factories abroad could complicate this process; however, in his view, it is ultimately the states that seek cooperation with other states.
During a recent Zoom conference, Zelensky also noted that at least ten interceptor manufacturing enterprises have been established outside of Ukraine without the state’s knowledge. In his opinion, such actions by private companies threaten the effectiveness of Ukrainian arms exports, as evidenced by the case where one country, after purchasing interceptors, reached out to Ukraine due to the absence of a warhead in the product.