Sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union (EU) against Russian companies operating in the interests of the Russian defense sector open new opportunities for military and technical cooperation of Ukraine on the regional weapons markets of the Middle East and South-East Asia, Head of the Ukroboronprom State Concern Pavlo Bukin has said.

"We plan to sign contracts to replace Russian products. There are markets where Russia had large advantage, although due to sanctions Russian cooperation is complicated. These processes play into our hands," he said in an interview with оbozrevael.ua posted on the website of the state concern.

One of the examples of this cooperation is works to promote promising Ukrainian precise anti-tank weapon systems to the market of the Middle East, Bukin said.

"If we talk about vivid examples, our Skif [portable anti-tank missile launcher] can easily replace the Russian Cornet. There are other developments. We need to show not only price advantages, but tactical and technical ones... Several presentations have already been held in the Middle East, including products Luch Design Bureau," the head of Ukroboronprom said.

Among the perspective partners of Ukraine in military-technical cooperation in the Middle East, where, there is also state support, Bukin mentioned Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.

In this connection, the head of Ukroboronprom reminded that the Middle East defense market today is one of the most dynamically developing ones.

According to Bukin, among the promising partners of Ukraine in the sphere of military-technical cooperation in the new conditions are also countries of South-East Asia, and, first of all, Thailand.