Strengthening Cooperation with European Partners under the CORPUS Coalition
The Defense Procurement Agency of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, known as DOT, is stepping up its collaboration with European partners inside the CORPUS coalition. Established at the agency's initiative in April 2026, the coalition is intended to serve as a durable platform for joint efforts to boost defense capabilities. The first multinational working groups have now started their work, focusing on three key areas:
- compliance and supplier vetting;
- digitalization of supply processes;
- sustainability of defense procurement.
The working groups bring together departmental heads and market-engagement managers from Ukraine, Finland, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Members have agreed to exchange due-diligence checks on companies at each other's request, which is expected to improve the efficiency of procurement operations. The discussions also covered how IT systems—specifically DOT-Chain Food, DOT-Chain Defence, and DOT-Chain Arsenal—shape defense buying.
Exchanging Expertise and the Value of the Coalition
Arsen Zhumadilov, Director of the Defense Procurement Agency, highlighted the importance of mutual learning: 'Our experience with procurement under the pressures of modern, high-intensity warfare is fundamentally different from peacetime processes, so there is much we can offer partners. But there is also plenty to learn from our European colleagues. This two-way exchange is exactly what makes CORPUS valuable.'
Fiammetta Salmoni, Director General of Italy's Agenzia Industrie Difesa (AID), also stressed the coalition's significance: 'AID is a strong supporter of CORPUS. In Italy, efficiency in defense procurement comes from close cooperation with other bodies in the defense sector, which keeps strategic priorities, acquisition activities, and industrial capabilities aligned. CORPUS extends that collaborative approach to a European scale.'
The working group participants also plan to review both Western and Ukrainian procurement models to integrate best practices into defense supply. Special attention was paid to unmanned systems, a particularly relevant field for modern defense technology development.
CORPUS unites procurement agencies from multiple countries, allowing them to jointly strengthen defense capacity and adapt acquisition processes to wartime needs.
The deepening partnership between Ukraine and European countries within CORPUS reflects the growing need for international coordination in defense procurement. In wartime, the speed and effectiveness of buying processes are critical to national security. Pooling best practices and sharing lessons among member states can materially enhance the defense readiness of Ukraine and other nations facing similar threats. For defense stakeholders, CORPUS offers a model for cross-border cooperation under high-pressure conditions.