Ukraine and EU to discuss drone development as Alliance holds first meeting next week

05.09.2026, 16:36 rubryka.com

According to the outlet, European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius is likely to attend the meeting. A European Commission official confirmed his participation on condition of anonymity.

Nineteen companies from EU countries working in drone manufacturing are expected to be represented at the meeting. They include:

The Ukrainian side will be represented by the following companies:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first proposed the creation of such an alliance in her State of the Union address last year. It was part of a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening efforts to counter drone incursions into EU airspace.

The first meeting will focus primarily on assessing the current situation. Participants are expected to set a schedule for further work and discuss the first steps in the cooperation.

Simonas Šatūnas, head of Cabinet of European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius, explained that the EU is also interested in Ukraine's experience in drone technology.

"We are trying to learn a lot from them: how the ecosystem works, how the government and the drone industry cooperate," he said.

As Rubryka reported, during celebrations marking Ukrainian Statehood Day on July 15, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a new defence-industrial partnership between the European Union and Ukraine. The parties will sign the Drone Deal — an agreement aimed at deepening cooperation in drone production.

The new agreement will combine Ukrainian technological developments and expertise with the manufacturing capabilities of European industry.

What does the Drone Deal involve?

As explained by Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, the Drone Deal is a multi-year international cooperation program initiated by Ukraine and aimed at comprehensive cooperation in the security and defense sectors. It brings together Ukrainian combat expertise, supply chains, and defense-industrial cooperation.

The Drone Deal may include a range of projects depending on partners' specific needs, including air defense development, scaling up drone technologies, training programs, and defense-industrial production. The entire system is built on Ukraine's battlefield experience.

The 10-year format of the agreements makes it possible to build partnerships that are both more flexible and stable. These arrangements are designed for the long term and provide a foundation for stable funding of cooperation.

It should be recalled that on July 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during which the leaders signed a Drone Deal agreement. It was also reported at the time that the number of Drone Deals concluded by Ukraine had reached nine. Negotiations with around 20 more countries were at various stages.

On September 2, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine was finalizing a Drone Deal with Germany. The two sides discussed its contents and signing timeline. The Ukrainian and German teams are currently finalizing the text of the document.