The Cabinet of Ministers supported the renewal of Ukraine’s defense policy: what are they proposing to change?

The Cabinet of Ministers supported the draft law, which provides for the renewal of the principles of Ukraine’s domestic policy in the areas of national security and defense. Among the key areas are enhanced preparation of citizens for national resistance, development of the defense-industrial complex, modern armaments and implementation of EU and NATO standards.

The initiator of the draft law was the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The need for changes is explained by the experience of a full-scale war, the transformation of the security environment and Ukraine’s European integration course.

This concerns the renewal of Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Principles of Domestic and Foreign Policy”.

What is proposed to be changed

The draft law provides for the extension of the relevant principles of state policy to all components of the security and defense forces.

Among the main proposed areas:

development of the security and defense sector as one of the key instruments of state policy;
strengthening the preparation of citizens of Ukraine for national resistance;
providing security and defense forces with modern weapons;
development of the defense-industrial complex using the latest technologies;
creation of closed cycles of production of weapons and other defense products;
deepening cooperation with partners from the European Union and NATO;
implementation of standards and practices of the EU and the North Atlantic Alliance.

One of the declared goals is also to create opportunities to ensure peace and territorial integrity of Ukraine within the internationally recognized state border.

Citizens will be more actively prepared for national resistance

The document pays special attention to the preparation of the population for national resistance.

The state plans to strengthen the relevant direction and take into account the experience gained by Ukraine during a full-scale war.

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada also supported legislative changes regarding special training of citizens as part of preparation for national resistance. Training should be conducted in special centers, which plan to involve veterans with combat experience.

According to parliamentarians, the training program should include, in particular, schoolchildren and students.

Ukraine will bring its defense system closer to NATO standards

Another direction should be the integration of standards and practices of NATO and European Union member states.

The draft law also provides for further observance of the principle of equal rights and opportunities for women and men during service.

The Ministry of Defense expects that the proposed changes will allow adapting Ukrainian legislation to modern security challenges and strengthening the state’s capabilities in the field of defense.

At the same time, the support of the draft law by the Cabinet of Ministers does not yet mean that the proposed norms will come into force. For this, the document must undergo the procedure for consideration and approval in the Verkhovna Rada provided for by law.