Zelenskyy reveals details of new deal with UK
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an important bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. They discussed security guarantees, investments in drone production, and opportunities to strengthen military support, according to Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel.
“A good, productive meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. We continue to coordinate our positions,” Zelenskyy emphasized.
According to the Ukrainian President, yesterday, together with all partners, and today in a bilateral format, he and the UK Prime Minister discussed expectations regarding the meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, as well as the likely prospects.
During the meeting, the politicians also discussed in detail the security guarantees that could make peace truly lasting if the United States manages to push Russia toward halting the killings and engaging in meaningful diplomacy.
“It is important that, within the framework of the Coalition of the Willing, we should all be able to achieve effective formats for security cooperation,” the Ukrainian President noted.
Zelenskyy also said they discussed the continuation of support programs for the Ukrainian army and defense production.
“Under any scenario, Ukraine will maintain its strength. Keir and I also talked about such mechanisms for weapons supplies as the PURL program, and I urged the UK to join. Of course, we also discussed our One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement,” the Ukrainian leader added.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine is preparing to ratify it as early as August and, as a result, hold an expanded Ukraine-UK meeting.
“A separate and important item on the agenda was investment in our drone production. We have significant potential to increase production volumes and urgently need financing for this. Drones play a decisive role on the frontline, and Ukraine’s capabilities to produce them are exceptional. Therefore, investment in such production can truly influence the situation at the strategic level,” Zelenskyy concluded.
UK support
The UK is one of Ukraine’s key allies in supporting its Defense Forces.
Earlier today, reports emerged that the UK forces have changed the format and tasks of the peacekeeping mission that will operate in Ukraine after the active phase of the war with Russia ends.
Meanwhile, at the beginning of this month, President Zelenskyy submitted draft law No. 0332 to the Verkhovna Rada regarding the ratification of the century-long agreement with the United Kingdom.
