Ukraine and UK To Jointly Produce Long-Range Drones, Says President Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine and the United Kingdom will soon begin joint production of long-range drones aimed at countering Russian aggression and saving Ukrainian lives.
The announcement came after a high-level meeting with newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London.
Joint Defense Initiative Against Russian Aggression
President Zelensky stated that the new drone initiative would focus on targeting strategic military positions and was part of broader efforts to stop “Russian terror.” He emphasized the importance of political unity, diplomatic coordination, and defense collaboration in resisting Russian advances.
While specific technical details of the drones were not disclosed, sources suggest the new systems could be designed to strike military targets inside Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in Ukraine’s long-range defense capabilities.
Ukraine: A Global Drone Power
Ukraine has already established itself as a leading user and developer of drones on the battlefield. Earlier this month, the Ukrainian security agency (SBU) conducted a covert operation using drones to destroy approximately 20 Russian bomber aircraft across five Russian airbases, highlighting Ukraine’s growing technological edge in warfare.
Zelensky Reacts to Moscow’s Massive Attack
Zelensky’s visit comes just as Moscow launched a large-scale aerial assault on Kyiv, involving 352 drones and North Korean-supplied ballistic missiles. In response, Zelensky strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “fully inhuman assault” and referring to Russia, Iran, and North Korea as forming a “coalition of killers.”
Diplomatic Thanks and Troop Meeting
During his visit, President Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Keir Starmer and previous UK governments for their unwavering support to Ukraine across military, financial, and humanitarian levels.
In a symbolic gesture, Zelensky and Starmer met with Ukrainian soldiers training in the UK, holding a brief interaction with them in the garden of Downing Street—an image of enduring partnership and joint commitment.
The announcement signals a new phase in UK–Ukraine defense cooperation, with both countries moving toward deeper strategic collaboration amid escalating tensions in Eastern Europe.
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