Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a declaration in London on deepening cooperation in security and the defence industry. The document marked an important step in developing the two countries’ strategic partnership and was signed following their first meeting in the strategic dialogue format.
According to the declaration, the parties agreed to create a joint defence-industrial and technological ecosystem. Cooperation will include:
creation of joint production lines;
conducting joint research and development;
integration of defence supply chains;
development of industrial partnerships;
exchange of experience and technology, including through the combat use of Ukrainian developments.
The Office of the President of Ukraine emphasized that the signed document opens a new stage in relations—deep, technological, and long-term, which some government officials are already calling the de facto creation of a defense alliance between Kyiv and London.
The talks also discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses with additional missiles, joint arms production, and measures to counter Russia’s “shadow tanker fleet.”
“This is an important step to strengthen our defense and the shared security of Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted in his comments after the signing.
The United Kingdom has remained one of Ukraine’s most steadfast allies since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, providing extensive military, financial, and technological support. The new declaration aims to take this partnership to a qualitatively new level amid the ongoing war and growing global security challenges.