UK, Ukraine move to strengthen defence ties against drone threats

Britain and Ukraine are set to sign a new defence partnership focused on tackling the growing threat posed by low-cost drones, according to an announcement from Downing Street ahead of a visit by Ukraine’s leader on Tuesday.

The planned agreement comes amid rising global concerns over the use of drones in modern conflicts.

Since the outbreak of the US–Israeli war with Iran late last month, Iran has largely deployed ballistic missiles against Israel, while relying on drones to strike targets in Gulf states.

In a statement, the office of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK-Ukraine agreement is designed to “boost global defensive capability against the proliferation of low-cost, high-tech military hardware, including drones.”

Officials say the partnership will enhance cooperation between both countries in developing strategies and technologies to counter emerging drone threats, which have become a key feature of contemporary warfare.

It seeks to leverage Ukraine’s “expertise” in fending off drones from its years-long war with Russia, as well as Britain’s industrial base, “to manufacture and supply drones and innovative capabilities”.

“Drones, electronic warfare and rapid battlefield innovation are now central to national and economic security, and that has only been further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East,” Starmer said in the statement.

“By deepening our defence partnerships, we are strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russia’s brutal, ongoing attacks, while ensuring the UK and our allies are better prepared to meet the threats of the future.”

The deal would also provide 500,000 pounds ($670,000) to fund an “AI Centre of Excellence” to be integrated into the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to London on Tuesday comes after he expressed concerns that global attention on the Middle East conflict could overshadow Ukraine’s war with Russia.

Ukraine’s European allies have vowed to keep up their support for Kyiv after Washington partly rolled back sanctions against Moscow to cool oil prices sent soaring by the Middle East war.

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