Stefanishyna announces transition of defense procurement audit to NATO standards
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine is transitioning its procurement system for defense needs to NATO standards. The process is expected to be completed by mid-2024, announces Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Olha Stefanishyna.
According to the official, the issue of clarity and predictability in defense procurement procedures is frequently raised in international meetings with representatives of Ukraine.
She specifically noted that in the United States, there have been discussions about the necessity for manufacturing companies to have a clear understanding of how much defense support will be needed and in what form.
"I can say that by mid-2024, we will have a complete audit of the defense procurement system and a plan for its transition to NATO standards," stated Stefanishyna.
The Vice Prime Minister added that ensuring Ukraine's security guarantees a steady supply for the Defense Forces, both during the repulsion of large-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation and after the cancellation of martial law.
Stefanishyna explained that long-term plans could assist foreign companies involved in the defense sector in better planning supplies for Ukraine.
The minister also emphasized that cooperation between defense companies serves as a kind of safeguard in the conditions of political uncertainty and amid the rise of right-wing sentiments in partner countries.
NATO standards in Ukraine
There are a total of 1,135 standards in the North Atlantic Alliance. As of the end of November, 280 of these standards have been implemented in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense, constituting approximately a quarter of the total.
- 174 standards were implemented within the framework of the Ukraine-NATO Partnership Goals (NATO's priority standards);
- 106 are classified as initiative standards, being introduced by Ukraine outside the Partnership Goals.
Transition of defense procurement to NATO standards
In May, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced that military procurement would now follow the model used by NATO member countries. This responsibility has been delegated to the separate Defense Procurement Agency, established in 2022, independent of the Ministry's apparatus.
Prior to this, the Ministry of Defense had indicated the possibility of NATO collaborating with Ukraine on the modernization of defense procurement.
