Ukraine and Finland Sign Deal on Joint Drone Production

The presidents of Ukraine and Finland, Volodymyr Zelensky and Alexander Stubb, signed a bilateral "Drone Deal" in New York this week, agreeing to cooperate on the joint production of defense drones, according to officials from both governments.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of high-level meetings in New York, where numerous world leaders gathered for the United Nations General Assembly session and held a series of bilateral discussions on the war in Ukraine and broader security cooperation.

What the deal covers

Details of the agreement's scope were not fully disclosed, but officials described it as covering joint development and manufacturing of drone technology intended to support Ukraine's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion. Finland has increasingly aligned its defense industry with Ukraine's wartime needs since joining NATO, and has previously supplied military equipment and training support to Kyiv.

Drones have become a central feature of the war in Ukraine, used extensively by both sides for reconnaissance, strikes and interception of enemy aircraft. Ukraine has built up a significant domestic drone manufacturing base during the conflict and has sought to expand production capacity through partnerships with allied states.

The signing comes as Zelensky continues to seek expanded international military and financial support during his visit to New York, where he has held a series of meetings with foreign leaders and addressed the UN General Assembly on the ongoing war.