President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine plans to build a major drone factory in the UK as part of a broader effort to deepen defense cooperation.
In an interview with Sky News on Monday, Zelensky said he hopes to launch a new phase in UK-Ukraine relations centered on joint drone production, technology sharing, and defense cooperation.
JOIN US ON TELEGRAM
Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.
“We’re ready to share all our experience with the UK, and I hope that the UK will do the same, so we need to make this drone deal very strong,” Zelensky said.
The president said he intends to discuss the proposal during upcoming talks with newly appointed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, whom he described as having had a “very good” introductory phone call after taking office.
Ukraine seeks stronger defense partnership with Britain
Zelensky said the proposed drone factory would build on years of British support for Ukraine, particularly in military training and the development of drone warfare capabilities.
The proposal comes as Ukraine continues expanding domestic weapons manufacturing while encouraging Western partners to localize production and jointly develop new military technologies.
Air defense remains a challenge
During the interview, Zelensky warned that Russia is increasing production of ballistic missiles while Ukraine continues to face shortages of interceptor missiles.
“We don’t have enough missiles to defend, this is a problem,” he said.
“There are not enough sanctions on Russia’s military production; they can increase the production of ballistic missiles, and that’s why we need air defense as quick as possible.”
Russia Fires ‘Factory-Fresh’ Missiles at Ukraine, Air Force Says
The president said recent events in the Middle East have also complicated Ukraine’s efforts to secure additional air-defense systems, as the US has shifted greater attention and resources toward the region.
“I understand that the US is focusing on the Middle East, but because of this, we had this challenge, and for us, it’s a big challenge,” Zelensky said.
He added that Kyiv is working with both European partners and Washington to address the shortage.
Zelensky defends military leadership changes
The interview followed a turbulent week in Ukrainian politics after Zelensky dismissed defense minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky amid reported disagreements between the defense ministry and the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Asked about calls to reinstate Fedorov, Zelensky declined to answer directly but defended the leadership changes, saying wartime decision-making could not be slowed by internal disputes.
“I don’t have time for talks,” he said. “I don’t have time to listen to one side, then to listen to another side, because two sides are not ready to meet each day. And I don’t need to find who is right and who is not right.”
Zelensky also rejected suggestions that Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign depended on any single official.
“Deep-strike operations are not about one man,” he said, describing them as a coordinated effort involving the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), military intelligence, and frontline troops.
“People are very strong, but tired”
Looking ahead, Zelensky warned that Russia could mobilize hundreds of thousands of additional troops and said Moscow would only stop fighting if it faced sufficient military pressure.
He argued Ukraine’s long-range strikes inside Russia were intended to demonstrate that the consequences of the war extend beyond Ukrainian territory.
Reflecting on more than four years of full-scale war, Zelensky acknowledged the growing strain on Ukrainian society, but expressed confidence in the country’s resilience.
“People are very strong, very strong, but of course, tired,” he said. “It’s a long war.”
He added that supporting veterans returning from the front would become one of Ukraine’s biggest postwar challenges.
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
