Ukraine’s Weapon Exports: How Zelensky Plans to Boost Defense and Collaborate with Global Partners

Translation result [Herald Economy=Reporter Lee Won-yul] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said April 29 (local time) that “Ukraine’s arms exports will become a reality.”

dpa reported that Zelensky told listeners in a speech the night before that some Ukrainian weapons systems have up to 50% surplus production capacity.

He said revenue from those exports would be used to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses.

Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian armed forces will always have priority access to weapons, and that Kyiv will secure what it needs first; only true surpluses will be exported.

He added that Ukraine is building partnerships across the Middle East and Europe centered on its advanced drones and related systems.

He also said Kyiv is discussing proposals with U.S. partners.

Ukraine recently signed defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates and has expanded its “drone diplomacy,” including joint weapons production lines with European countries.

At the same time, the Middle East crisis has placed added strain on Ukraine’s air defenses, which now face a severe shortage of interceptors such as Patriot missiles.

In an April 14 interview with Germany’s public broadcaster ZDF, Zelensky warned that if the (Iranian) conflict continues, weapons shipments to Ukraine could decrease and that shortages of materials for air-defense systems are particularly acute.

Meanwhile, U.S. forces that had struggled to counter Iran’s suicide-drone attacks recently adopted Ukrainian military technology.

Reuters reported April 22 that the U.S. deployed a Ukrainian command-and-control platform to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. facility in the region, to help defend against Iranian drones.

In recent weeks, Ukrainian officers visited the base to train personnel on detecting incoming Iranian drones and on launching interceptor drones.

The system, known as “Sky Map,” draws on Ukraine’s combat experience in countering Russian strikes that relied on Iran-made loitering munitions for more than four years.

Donald Trump publicly dismissed Zelensky’s offer to share the technology. In a Fox News interview on the 6th of last month, he said, “We don’t need their help.”