Ukraine’s arms export offices will open in Copenhagen and Berlin this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on 3 November 2025, framing the move as part of joint weapons production with European partners to fund domestic output of scarce systems.
Why arms export offices in Copenhagen and Berlin matter for co‑production
Zelensky described the two capitals as future “export hubs” linked to co‑production projects with Denmark and Germany. The offices are meant to streamline licensing, partnerships with European manufacturers and investors, and after‑sales support, while channelling revenues back into Ukraine’s defence industry.
What Ukraine aims to export: sea drones and artillery
According to Zelensky, Ukraine is ready to export sea drones and certain artillery systems that are not needed at the front in the same quantities. The goal is to monetise proven battlefield technologies and reinvest proceeds into priority capabilities that remain underfinanced.
Timeline and open questions
The president said the offices would launch by the end of 2025. Specific locations, staffing and governance have not been disclosed. Danish and German authorities have yet to detail how export control, end‑user assurances and technology‑transfer rules will apply. What is clear is the intent to align the offices with existing European defence frameworks and bilateral agreements.
Denmark’s role: from missile fuel to industrial partnerships
Copenhagen has become a key partner for Kyiv’s industry. In September, a Ukrainian manufacturer announced plans to produce long‑range missile fuel in Southern Jutland, near Skrydstrup Air Base, marking Ukraine’s first such facility abroad. Denmark has also channelled significant funding and procurement through what officials call the “Danish model,” directing resources to purchases from Ukraine’s defence sector. Overall Danish military support has reached about €9 billion since 2022.
Germany’s part in the plan and EU context
Berlin is one of Ukraine’s largest European backers and a co‑production partner, including in long‑range missile development and air defence. Germany has recently expanded budget lines for Ukraine support and defence procurement at home, with officials emphasising sustained assistance and industrial cooperation. Locating an office in Berlin dovetails with these commitments and with the growing EU focus on defence industrial capacity.
Mass production inside Ukraine
Zelensky added that Ukraine plans to begin mass production of domestically developed Flamingo and Ruta missiles by year‑end. Scaling up local output is presented as complementary to the export strategy, not a substitute.
What to watch next
Key milestones include the formal announcement of office addresses, regulatory arrangements with Danish and German authorities, and any initial export contracts for naval drones or artillery systems. For the Nordic region and the EU, the initiative signals deeper integration of Ukraine’s defence industry into European supply chains while the war enters its fourth year.
