Joint drone production. Details of Zelenskyy’s visit to London
17 March 10:03
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on March 17 to discuss a deeper defense and industrial partnership, “leveraging Ukraine’s expertise and the UK’s industrial base to produce and supply drones and innovative capabilities,” the British government announced, as reported by [Komersant].
“The leaders are expected to agree on an expanded declaration aimed at the joint production and supply of drones and other military technologies,” the Downing Street statement said.
According to the report, as part of the agreement, the UK and Ukraine will also explore opportunities to expand defense-industrial and technological cooperation with third countries.
“We must work with our partners and allies to ensure security at home and abroad, and a new partnership with Ukraine will do just that. Drones, electronic warfare, and rapid innovation on the battlefield are now central to national and economic security, and this is only intensified by the conflict in the Middle East,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The British government added that the new cooperation is a step forward in the 100-year partnership that the British Prime Minister agreed upon with the President of Ukraine in Kyiv in January 2025, and will enhance the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ ability to defend themselves “against Russia’s barbaric attacks, while ensuring that allies and partners can use lessons learned on the battlefield to stay ahead of Russia and its allies in theaters of operations around the world.”
According to the report, the UK will also fund a new artificial intelligence center at the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is also expected to visit London for talks with Starmer and Zelenskyy, which will focus on efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, the actions of the “Coalition of the Willing” in the event of a ceasefire, and the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia, the British government said.
Media reports previously indicated that after London, Zelenskyy will travel to Spain, where he will meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and then proceed to Brussels, where he has been invited to attend the European Council meeting on March 19 and 20.
