Ukraine and Estonia Sign Drone Deal on Cooperation in Unmanned Technologies
On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal signed a deal on cooperation in unmanned technologies, which will boost defense ties and give Estonian companies access to Ukraine's battlefield experience.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal signed a so-called Drone Deal on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara – an agreement on cooperation in unmanned technologies.
Michal called it a major step forward in defense cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine. The agreement, he said, strengthens Estonia's defense, creates new opportunities for its defense industry, and helps support Ukraine more effectively. He emphasized that Ukraine is no longer just a security recipient but is becoming a security provider for Europe.
While the content of the agreement is not public, Michal explained that it will allow Estonian companies to start drone production based on Ukrainian experience. Ukraine's knowledge and skills, honed in war and now among the best in the world, will be shared with Estonian firms. The deal also includes a provision for Estonia to purchase products from Ukrainian companies in the future, including those still in development. Additionally, there is a clause on possible joint production in Estonia.
Michal noted that the signing was originally planned for the Nordic-Baltic Eight summit in Tallinn but was postponed for technical reasons. During their bilateral meeting, the leaders discussed how Estonia and Europe could help create conditions that would force Russia to make concessions, as well as Europe's role in potential negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. They also talked about the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, which will be hosted by Estonia in January 2027.
