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KIEV, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine on Thursday passed a bill to allow the defense ministry to directly import arms in a bid to speed up import procedures and reduce the expenses of intermediary services.
The bill was approved by 236 votes in the parliament, surpassing the minimum of 226 that is required, the government-run Ukrinform news agency said.
The new legislation allows the defense ministry to purchase military equipment and weapons abroad without mediation from specialized companies from Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom.
The final text of the legislation has not been published on the parliament's website yet. The law will come into force on the day following its official publication.
