Ukraine and EU sign joint drone production pact

Ukraine and the European Union have signed a landmark agreement to jointly boost drone production, combining Ukraine's battlefield expertise with the EU's industrial capacity. The deal was announced on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Kyiv by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a ceremony marking Ukraine's Statehood Day.

The partnership aims to accelerate the development and manufacturing of drones and counter-drone systems by leveraging Ukraine's unique, battle-tested knowledge gained during its war with Russia and the EU's extensive technological resources and secure production facilities. Von der Leyen described the initiative as a major step toward expanding joint defense production, stating that the point was to combine their strengths. She noted the EU could offer huge technological and industrial capacity and safe production sites, while Ukraine possesses unmatched expertise in operating and countering drone systems.

President Zelenskyy highlighted the critical role of drones in the conflict, stating that Ukraine is producing 10 million drones annually, with plans to increase that to 20 million. He said drones...