The US Department of Justice has lifted restrictions on arms imports from Ukraine that had been in place since 1997. This decision removes regulatory barriers and opens the way for Ukrainian manufacturers to the American market.
The US Department of Justice has lifted restrictions on arms imports from Ukraine that had been in place since 1997. This decision removes regulatory barriers and opens the way for Ukrainian manufacturers to the American market.
This was announced by the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, Forbes Ukraine reports .
According to Stefanishyna, the adoption of the new rules legally unlocks the possibility of permanently importing certain categories of Ukrainian weapons into the United States. Previously, applications for weapons imports from Ukraine were automatically rejected due to outdated restrictions. Now they will be considered by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (ATF) on an individual basis.
"The decision ensures full regulatory harmonization between the US Department of State's policy of considering Ukraine as an ally and the Department of Justice's import procedures," the ambassador explained.
She added that the public comment period for the new rules will last until July 6, 2026, after which the US Department of Justice will approve the final document.
The abolished restrictions were introduced back in 1997 against the backdrop of the Voluntary Restriction Agreement with the Russian Federation. They contained a direct ban on the import of firearms from a number of former Soviet republics, including Ukraine. After these changes, Russia will remain the only country on the list with such bans.
At the same time, experts emphasize that the abolition of automatic rejection does not mean an instant and unhindered opening of the American market. Each export application from Ukrainian manufacturers will still undergo a thorough review in the United States, and certain categories of goods may be subject to other restrictions.
Let us remind you that the issue of Ukrainian weapons exports remains one of the most important for the domestic military-industrial complex. Despite the significant potential and interest from foreign partners, including in developments in the field of DefenseTech, Ukrainian manufacturers continue to face internal legal and bureaucratic obstacles.
Previously, dev.ua analyzed the market situation in detail: the government has still not finally resolved the issue of exporting surplus weapons, which forces companies to look for other ways of development, in particular through localization of production abroad or attracting foreign direct investment under specific contracts.
