Ukraine terminates agreement with CIS on arms standards

Ukraine has terminated an agreement aimed at strengthening and developing cooperation between the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in the field of standardization of armaments and military equipment, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade has reported.

"Today, on April 17, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine supported the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and terminated for Ukraine the effect of an agreement aimed at strengthening and developing cooperation between the CIS states in the field of standardization of armaments and military equipment," the statement reads.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv said that the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade had conducted an analysis and concluded that the agreement cannot be practically implemented in Ukraine since it ties armaments to state standards. According to him, Soviet standards have been 90% canceled in Ukraine and they are being replaced by European standards.

"A strategic course for NATO is also secured in the Constitution so we will carry out the standardization of armaments and military equipment in accordance with this course," he added.

According to the decision of the Ukrainian government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will inform the CIS Executive Committee in accordance with the established procedure about the termination of the agreement and the protocol for Ukraine.

Since 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers has canceled 90% of Soviet standards. Instead, more than 5,000 national standards have been developed and adopted, and this year the government plans to add another 3,000 to them.

In February 2019, Ukraine completed the process of leaving the coordination bodies of the CIS and is working to terminate its participation in treaties concluded earlier as part of the Commonwealth.

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