Volodymyr Zelensky is due to visit the United Kingdom on Tuesday for talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where the two leaders are expected to sign a new defence agreement focused on countering drone threats. According to Downing Street, the partnership will combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with the UK’s industrial capabilities to develop and produce drones and related technologies.

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The planned agreement reflects the growing importance of drones and electronic warfare in modern conflicts. Officials say the collaboration will aim to strengthen Ukraine’s defences against Russia while also enhancing the UK’s own preparedness for future security challenges.

Focus on evolving battlefield threats

As part of the initiative, Britain will contribute £500,000 towards the creation of an artificial intelligence centre of excellence in Kyiv. UK Defence Secretary John Healey said it was increasingly vital to draw on Ukraine’s experience in adapting to rapidly changing battlefield conditions.

Starmer also highlighted the broader implications of the conflict, stating that drone warfare and technological innovation had become central to both national security and economic resilience.

Continued support for Ukraine

During the visit, the two leaders are also expected to discuss ongoing military and political support for Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia’s full-scale invasion, now entering its fourth year.

Zelensky has been touring European capitals in recent weeks, seeking to maintain international backing at a time when global attention has been partly diverted by the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

In a recent address, the Ukrainian president said strengthening air defences remained a priority and emphasised the need for sustained pressure on Russia to move towards peace.

Expanding international cooperation

The UK-Ukraine partnership is also expected to involve cooperation with third countries, as part of wider efforts to improve global security and counter emerging threats.

Ukraine has increasingly positioned itself as a leader in countering low-cost drone attacks, having developed tactics using mass-produced interceptor drones to defend its airspace.

Ukrainian military specialists have recently been deployed to countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to share expertise on defending against drone strikes, particularly those linked to Iran.

The agreement to be signed in London is seen as part of a broader push to formalise that expertise into long-term defence cooperation.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 17 March 2026

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Maybe it is time to get rid of Zelensky and his cronies, once and for good; it is absolutely unbelievable that such a clown tries to blackmail Europe into a corner, for which the Americans don't even get verbally reprimanded.

25 minutes ago, Sydebolle said:

Maybe it is time to get rid of Zelensky and his cronies, once and for good; it is absolutely unbelievable that such a clown tries to blackmail Europe into a corner, for which the Americans don't even get verbally reprimanded.

What a load of bullcrap. Without Zelensky, Russia would have taken over Ukraine, and god knows who would be next.

Russia has been the biggest threat to peace in Europe since WW2, and Zelensky has been nothing but a hero to keep Russia at an armlength's distance, despite being bombed daily for 4 years. Zelensky is the reason we can still wake up in the mornings and feel safe in Europe, for having the balls to stand up to the bullies and war criminals from Russia.

I certainly don't want my kids in Norway to be forced to learn Russian at schools.

What is unbelievable, is the way the US and Trump have abandoned Ukraine (but has no problem going to war with Iran..), and Trump still blaming Ukraine for this war is still ongoing. So of course with Europe's firm support, except from the Russia-lovers Hungary and Slovakia (with leaders Trump worships, Orban and Fico), Ukraine must be making alliances and working together with the countries that support them 100%. UK is only one of many, and one of several countries with cooperation on the newest drone technology.

Zelensky is also a huge reason why the European countries can be in front of the new drone development and technology, and by that be perfectly fine against Russia without the US support.

21 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

What a load of bullcrap. Without Zelensky, Russia would have taken over Ukraine, and god knows who would be next.

Russia has been the biggest threat to peace in Europe since WW2, and Zelensky has been nothing but a hero to keep Russia at an armlength's distance, despite being bombed daily for 4 years. Zelensky is the reason we can still wake up in the mornings and feel safe in Europe, for having the balls to stand up to the bullies and war criminals from Russia.

I certainly don't want my kids in Norway to be forced to learn Russian at schools.

What is unbelievable, is the way the US and Trump have abandoned Ukraine (but has no problem going to war with Iran..), and Trump still blaming Ukraine for this war is still ongoing. So of course with Europe's firm support, except from the Russia-lovers Hungary and Slovakia (with leaders Trump worships, Orban and Fico), Ukraine must be making alliances and working together with the countries that support them 100%. UK is only one of many, and one of several countries with cooperation on the newest drone technology.

Zelensky is also a huge reason why the European countries can be in front of the new drone development and technology, and by that be perfectly fine against Russia without the US support.

Well, Zelensky does not qualify in the camp of the Fidels and future will tell. Putin, with a Soviet mindset, warned NATO over and over and over, that he did not want NATO on his doorstep as NATO in essence is an extension of the US. For clarity, read the Minsk conference details whereby Soviet Gorbachev agreed with Germany's Kohl to let the GDR (German Democratic Republic or East Germany) get reunited with West Germany. That also meant, that GDR leaves the Warsaw Pact to join NATO. The deal was agreed by both leaders and the NATO Secretary General Wörner (by coincidence also a German) was there to witness and ink the deal. That was 1991; by 2009 the NATO had expanded all over Eastern Europe, on behest of Washington DC and Putin (meanwhile on the throne for a quarter of the century) kept highlighting the Minsk conference. Putin might be a headache but that would be dealt with the Russians and the Russians only.

If you keep teasing anything for long enough, the dam breaks and this is what happened in Georgia and Ukraine. Latter being a bombastic money shredder by the tens if not hundreds of billions, earned and paid for with European tax money. Turn off the money supply and the whole thing will go up in thin air.

The US have been screwing around, unsuccessfully since 1945, with their foreign policy. Putting their noses into literally anything has created nothing but fear, tensions and in many cases ultimately wars.

Same applies to China's uneasiness; they keep North Korea alive as they do not want to see any of those 28'000 Yankees stationed in South Korea. Taiwan is and remains a hot potato as the US has its fingers in Taiwan.

But yes, don't you worry about your kids in Norway; there the chances are less that they learn Russian; I would focus on the teachings of the Fidels with Halal food, steamrollering any tradition rules and laws of the host country and if you have a nine years old daughter, beware of the (arguably few) bearded pedophiles, who can by law even marry four of them and if they hand in their dinner pale, there are 72 virgins waiting somewhere.

Putin is by all accounts not my chosen leader but remains a domestic Russian issue; the Ukraine story, like the Gaza disaster and the present steamrollering attempts of Iran carry all signatures of Washington!

5 hours ago, Sydebolle said:

Well, Zelensky does not qualify in the camp of the Fidels and future will tell. Putin, with a Soviet mindset, warned NATO over and over and over, that he did not want NATO on his doorstep as NATO in essence is an extension of the US. For clarity, read the Minsk conference details whereby Soviet Gorbachev agreed with Germany's Kohl to let the GDR (German Democratic Republic or East Germany) get reunited with West Germany. That also meant, that GDR leaves the Warsaw Pact to join NATO. The deal was agreed by both leaders and the NATO Secretary General Wörner (by coincidence also a German) was there to witness and ink the deal. That was 1991; by 2009 the NATO had expanded all over Eastern Europe, on behest of Washington DC and Putin (meanwhile on the throne for a quarter of the century) kept highlighting the Minsk conference. Putin might be a headache but that would be dealt with the Russians and the Russians only.

If you keep teasing anything for long enough, the dam breaks and this is what happened in Georgia and Ukraine. Latter being a bombastic money shredder by the tens if not hundreds of billions, earned and paid for with European tax money. Turn off the money supply and the whole thing will go up in thin air.

The US have been screwing around, unsuccessfully since 1945, with their foreign policy. Putting their noses into literally anything has created nothing but fear, tensions and in many cases ultimately wars.

Same applies to China's uneasiness; they keep North Korea alive as they do not want to see any of those 28'000 Yankees stationed in South Korea. Taiwan is and remains a hot potato as the US has its fingers in Taiwan.

But yes, don't you worry about your kids in Norway; there the chances are less that they learn Russian; I would focus on the teachings of the Fidels with Halal food, steamrollering any tradition rules and laws of the host country and if you have a nine years old daughter, beware of the (arguably few) bearded pedophiles, who can by law even marry four of them and if they hand in their dinner pale, there are 72 virgins waiting somewhere.

Putin is by all accounts not my chosen leader but remains a domestic Russian issue; the Ukraine story, like the Gaza disaster and the present steamrollering attempts of Iran carry all signatures of Washington!

I will ignore your Russian propaganda, except the claim that Russia didn't want NATO on their doorstep...

Where are you from? Can't be Europe. Russia already have seven (7) NATO countries on their doorstep.

So this claim is rubbish, and with that falls the other claims as well. Putin has only been interested in regaining the old Soviet Union, and by that steal minerals and other values for the federation. Acts and thoughts like a madman of a dictator.

You mixed it up with a couple of sensible sentences though, I'll give you that.