05/07/2026
The United States has opened the door to imports of Ukrainian weapons and ammunition after the U.S. Department of Justice lifted years of restrictions on Ukraine. The decision effectively opens the American market to Ukrainian arms manufacturers and DefenseTech companies.
This was stated by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. She reported that the US Department of Justice has removed Ukraine from the list of countries subject to special restrictions on arms imports.
What changes the US decision
Stefanishyna explained that the new rules legally unlock the possibility of permanent import to the US of certain categories of Ukrainian weapons, ammunition, and components.
In addition, the decision removes regulatory barriers that previously limited Ukrainian defense manufacturers’ access to the American market.
The Ambassador noted that the changes also provide regulatory harmonization between the policy of the US Department of State, which views Ukraine as an ally, and the import procedures of the US Department of Justice regarding defense products.
How the new system will work
From now on, applications for the import of Ukrainian firearms will be considered by the US Federal Agency for the Control of Firearms, Explosives, Alcohol and Tobacco (ATF) on a case-by-case basis.
Under the new rules, such applications will no longer be automatically rejected; each case will be evaluated individually.
“The public comment period for the above draft rules will last until July 6, 2026. After that, the US Department of Justice will take into account the comments (if any) in the final rule, which will still undergo interagency approval before publication,” Stefanishyna reported.
Lifting restrictions that have been in place since 1997
Previous restrictions had been in place since 1997, following a voluntary restraint agreement with the Russian Federation. They prohibited the granting of applications for permanent imports of weapons and ammunition produced in a number of former Soviet republics.
In addition to Ukraine, this list included Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
After the changes, Russia will remain the only country on this list of restrictions . According to Stefanishina, the new rules abolish outdated norms that no longer correspond to modern relations between the United States and Ukraine.
As OBOZ.UA reported, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will export domestic weapons within the framework of security agreements with partner states . The state will sell only surplus weapons and will check buyers for cooperation with the Russian Federation.
Whatever happened to “we don’t need Ukraine for anything?”
Changed to: Without Ukraine we can not defend ourselves.
Taco is like a little banner, turning with the wind, although he doesn’t always admit being wrong. No, he never admits anything.
His arrogance will never get him to admit he was wrong.
Arogance is only one aspect, the other is his stupidity.
This policy began under Clinton in 1997 and apparently lifted under Trump in 2026. This is really, really good for Ukraine and the US. We should be really, really happy about this. Lifting this restriction is in itself an admission he was wrong, and it is more likely he will try to take credit for it. IMO, who cares? Its good for the good guys.