Ukraine and European Union Sign Drone Agreement

Ukraine and the European Union have formalized a significant partnership by signing a Drone Agreement, signaling a new era of cooperation in the defense industry. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the agreement, stating that Ukraine has transformed from a buyer to a genuine supplier of security measures for Europe.

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Ukraine has in many ways transformed from a buyer to a genuine supplier of security measures for Europe. This also means a new way of cooperation. That is precisely why I am delighted that together with you, Volodymyr, we are launching a new EU-Ukraine defense industry partnership. What we are signing today is our very own Drone Treaty.

"What we are signing today is our very own Drone Treaty," von der Leyen announced, highlighting the strategic importance of this collaboration. She pointed to Ukraine's unique combat experience and expertise in drone technology and counter-drone systems, emphasizing the need for the EU and Ukraine to utilize this knowledge together, especially given the current threats facing Europe.

The agreement seeks to combine Ukraine's innovative capabilities with the industrial scale of Europe. Von der Leyen noted that Europe possesses substantial technological and industrial capacity, along with secure and reliable production sites, which can be expanded to meet increased demand. This synergy is expected to bolster European security and provide a clear signal for investment in Ukraine's defense sector.

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Events here and around the world have shown how important it is for our security to be able to use equipment that has been tested in combat. In Europe, we already have enormous technological and industrial capacities that can be used. Furthermore, we have safe and reliable production sites that can help increase production volumes.

This development follows a meeting on July 8 between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President von der Leyen in Ankara, where they discussed Ukraine's integration into Europe and the Drone Agreement. Von der Leyen's arrival in Kyiv on July 15 marked her 11th visit since the full-scale Russian invasion began, underscoring the ongoing commitment to strengthening ties between Ukraine and the EU.

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This agreement will help combine Ukrainian ingenuity and European industrial scale and send a clear signal that now is the time to invest in Ukraine and in our common security.