NATO recommends maintaining separate functioning of two defense procurement agencies

NATO has expressed its position on maintaining the separate functioning of Ukraine's two newly created defense agencies—the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ) and the State Logistics Operator (DOT)—responsible for lethal and non-lethal defense procurements, respectively.

In its statement, NATO emphasized that at least during wartime, these two structures should continue to function separately.

"The recommendations state that the focus should be on continuing to strengthen their capacity to perform their tasks and supporting their independence and anti-corruption policies, including through the swift appointment of an independent supervisory board for each agency," the NATO's message reads.

The statement also welcomes the declared intention of Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to appoint both supervisory boards very soon.

"The key objectives shared between NATO and Ukraine are that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent and democratic nation, and moves forward on its irreversible path towards NATO membership. The approved recommendations of the SDPR are designed to support those objectives," the Alliance's representation in Ukraine stated.

In early 2024, Ukraine and NATO conducted work on the Strategic Defense Procurement Review (SDPR), which resulted in a series of recommendations. These recommendations were endorsed by Ukraine and NATO in July at the Washington Summit.

On September 25, the Ministry of Defense decided to merge its procurement agencies—the Defense Procurement Agency (AOZ) and the State Logistics Operator (DOT)—into a single entity.