One year of Ukrainian arms exports, and industry has questions: how much army gained, where Berlin office is, who joins joint ventures

One year after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the resumption of controlled arms exports in October 2025, industry leaders are questioning the progress of the program. Ihor Fedirko, executive director of the Ukrainian Council of Armorers, has highlighted several concerns.

Firstly, the export of surplus weapons is hindered by rules that inflate export fees. The export fee for finished products is set at 20%, while components face a 30% fee. This pricing structure, according to Fedirko, has effectively deterred foreign markets from purchasing Ukrainian arms. Despite a proposal for a zero rate and additional protections, the Ukrainian Council of Armorers is yet to see improvements in the export mechanism.

Secondly, the procurement of weapons for the Ukrainian military remains uncertain. The Ukrainian Council of Armorers aims for a significantly lower export fee, enabling companies to fulfill contracts and invest in production. However, the current 20% export fee casts doubt on the competitiveness of Ukrainian weapons in the global market and the ability of manufacturers to send test batches to potential buyers.

Fedirko emphasizes the importance of post-payment, where companies should only pay the state after receiving their income.

Thirdly, the establishment of export offices in Berlin and Copenhagen has yet to yield concrete results. Fedirko is unsure about the current status of these offices and the application process for companies seeking assistance. Lastly, joint ventures have achieved some success, with five ventures already supplying products to Ukraine. Fedirko acknowledges the contributions of Ukrainian and foreign partners, but stresses the need for clearer rules regarding participation and state support in these ventures.