I'm ruling out drone export, it's too dangerous – Zelenskyy

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised the danger of exporting Ukrainian drones, noting that this could risk them falling into the hands of Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview on the national 24/7 newscast 

Details: The president said Ukraine’s defence minister had already shown him potential export models for drones.

Quote: "I’ve already seen a couple of ideas, but I’m ruling out export – it’s very dangerous if we export to someone and they [the drones] get into the hands of the Russian Federation."

Zelenskyy also stated that potential exports can only be discussed among Ramstein partner countries (members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group) who have actively assisted Ukraine during the war. However, there are complications here: even with some of the countries that are actually funding the development of drones in Ukraine, the question remains whether they really want these drones for their own arsenals.

"If Denmark gives [€]600 million for drone production in Ukraine, does it really want to take those drones?" Zelenskyy added.

At the same time, Zelenskyy said he has no objection to the Ministry of Defence developing a model for export. But he also expressed the view that countries that have not provided Ukraine with weapons during the war should not receive Ukrainian drones.

Background: Ukraine is exploring the possibility of attracting international investment in the defence industry and has not ruled out restarting domestic weapons exports.

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