Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have announced a new initiative of joint production of defence products. The announcement was made on 23 June during the Ukrainian president’s brief visit to London.
“I am very proud that today we can announce a deal on industrial defence co-production – the first of its kind for Ukraine and the UK – which will be a significant step forward in the contribution we continue to make,” Starmer said.
Zelensky, for his part, said the agreement will help strengthen both countries.
“There is a good outcome of today’s meeting-an additional decision on co-production. I think it will be very strong and will strengthen both countries,” the president was quoted by his press service as saying. Details of the agreement were not given there.
In a report on the meeting between the two leaders, Starmer’s office also said they had agreed to have a “coalition of the willing” – led by Britain and France – meet online in the coming weeks.
The meeting between Zielenski and Starmer took place on the eve of the NATO summit, which opens today in The Hague, Netherlands. Both leaders will be there.