Sunday26 January 2025
swoboda.in.ua

The Rada explained how Ukraine can generate billions of dollars through arms sales, which would involve substantial financial resources.

The Cabinet of Ministers' Resolution No. 1275 needs to be amended, says MP Yanchenco.
В Раде рассказали, как Украина может заработать миллиарды долларов на продаже оружия, что принесет значительные финансовые ресурсы.

The export of weapons will become a key pillar on which post-war Ukraine will stand and develop. However, as a result of the war with the Russian Federation, arms manufacturers have become captives of the state, as they are prohibited from exporting weapons, forcing them to send all produced goods to the domestic market.

This was stated during a broadcast on the YouTube channel Telegraf UA by Ukrainian MP and Deputy Chairman of the "Servant of the People" party faction in the Verkhovna Rada of the 9th convocation Halyna Yanchenko. She explained why this situation has arisen and how to overcome it.

According to her, the Ukrainian defense industry has only one sales market; however, this issue needs to be regulated to avoid cornering the domestic defense industry into a dead end.

— Currently, Ukrainian enterprises are simply discriminated against compared to foreign arms manufacturers. This is unfair and unjust, and we are effectively destroying the Ukrainian defense industry with our own hands. This needs to change. And we are changing it through resolution №1275 (on defense procurement. — Ed.). I really hope that it will be amended at the beginning of the year, — says the MP.

She noted that the parliamentary commission she heads for the protection of investor rights is closely working with the First Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries Oleg Mozhny and directly with Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, which gives hope for the introduction of adequate changes to the aforementioned resolution that should promote the development of our defense industry rather than destroy it.

— We have also developed four draft laws and several resolutions to create favorable conditions, implement certain deregulations, loosen restrictions, and allow the Ukrainian defense industry to breathe a bit more freely, expand, and develop, — says the "servant".

She explained that Ukrainian arms production is operating at an average of 50% capacity (ranging from 20% to 80%). At the same time, the domestic defense industry has the potential to produce goods worth $20 billion a year, while the state is only capable of purchasing $6 billion worth.

— Since the state is unable to purchase the entire volume and simultaneously prohibits exports, we are hindering this sector's development. We are not allowing it to scale up production, create new jobs, or pay higher taxes so that other enterprises do not need to raise taxes again. We are also not enabling more active foreign currency attraction and revenue into the country, — adds Halyna Yanchenko.

She pointed out that EU countries are making historic decisions to allocate very large funds for replenishing their weapon stockpiles and re-equipping their armies by 2025.

— These will be colossal funds, and why not give the opportunity for the Ukrainian defense industry to participate in these procurements: to establish partnerships with European manufacturers and governments and effectively attract this profit to Ukraine, — says the head of the special commission. — Moreover, we will receive less non-repayable assistance, including military aid. This means we need to earn more and be more pragmatic. Therefore, the export of weapons and similar economic development could be very important for our country in 2025.

As a reminder, "Telegraf" reported that the private sector of the defense industry is outpacing state enterprises in the production of weapons and ammunition.