- President Zelenskyy set to visit Downing Street today as
leaders agree new military partnership and announce new AI Centre
of Excellence in Kyiv
- Comes as UK and Ukrainian personnel continue to provide
defensive drone support to partners in the Gulf in the wake of
indiscriminate Iranian attacks
- NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also expected to visit
London tomorrow for discussions on Euro-Atlantic security
THE UK and Ukraine are set to agree a new world-leading
partnership to boost global defensive capability against the
proliferation of low cost, high tech military hardware, including
drones.
The Prime Minister will host President Zelenskyy in the UK today
[TUES] as both Ukrainian and British drone experts continue to
support partners in the Gulf from the continued barrage of
Iranian attacks.
It comes as the two leaders are expected to agree an
enhanced security and defence industrial declaration,
capitalising on Ukraine's expertise and the UK's industrial base
to manufacture and supply drones and innovative capabilities.
As part of the agreement, the UK and Ukraine will also look at
opportunities for increased defence industrial and
technological cooperation with third countries, boosting
international security and ensuring the latest defence technology
is in the hands of those who need it most.
The UK will also fund a new AI Centre of Excellence that will sit
within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. This team of experts,
backed by £500,000, will ensure AI is being utilised to its
fullest to deliver a battlefield advantage. The UK will then in
turn benefit from the lessons learned for our own defence -
another example where our collaboration brings advantages for
both countries.
Prime Minister said:
"We must work in lockstep with our partners and allies to
deliver security at home and abroad, and this new partnership
with Ukraine will do just that.
“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.
"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.”
Pervasive drone surveillance, extensive electronic warfare,
AI-driven targeting, and the rapid, battlefield-driven innovation
of uncrewed systems as seen in the ongoing war in
Ukraine has changed the way wars are being fought across the
globe.
In response, Ukraine has honed world leading expertise in
defending cities, civilians and command posts from drone attacks
with their Armed Forces working hand-in-glove with software
engineers and tech experts, iterating and adapting to new threats
on an almost daily basis.
This latest step in the 100-Year Partnership, which the
Prime Minister signed with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv last
January, will boost Ukraine's Armed Forces ability to defend
itself from Russia's barbaric attacks, while ensuring allies
and partners are able to use the lessons learnt on the
battlefield to outmanoeuvre Russia and its cronies in contested
theatres across the world.
It will also cement Ukraine as a leading technology
contributor to the global defence industry, with closer
collaboration between British and Ukrainian defence firms and a
long-term aim of establishing joint production lines, research
and development projects and the integration of defence supply
chains.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“Ukraine's military expertise is defending against Putin's brutal
attacks and boosting European security, and I am proud of how the
UK is stepping up support to Ukraine to achieve peace on their
terms.
“The axis of aggression between Russia and Iran makes it
increasingly important that we build on Ukrainian expertise and
innovation, supported by British industry, and ensure that
Ukrainian fighters see benefits from that as they continue to
push back Putin's illegal invasion.
“I pay tribute to the huge courage and ingenuity of the Ukrainian
people – military and civilians alike – and I am determined to
make 2026 the year this war ends.”
The Prime Minister is also expected to host the NATO Secretary
General at Downing Street as part of the visit. All three leaders
will discuss efforts to secure a just and lasting peace for
Ukraine, progress on Coalition of the Willing in the event of a
ceasefire and the need to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia.
ENDS
Background:
· The
new declaration, which builds on the agreement in the 100 Year
Partnership, will also accelerate the IP sharing arrangements
between the UK and Ukraine agreed as part of Project Lyra.
