Zelensky Announces Plan to Sign Drone Deal with Canada in New York
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv expects to sign a so-called Drone Deal with Canada during the UN General Assembly session in New York in late September. The groundwork was laid during his September 10 meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine expects to sign a so-called Drone Deal with Canada on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in late September. He made the statement to journalists following a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
According to Zelensky, the two countries took a first step toward the agreement on Thursday. He said their teams had initially estimated a 90-day timeline to finalize the deal, but Carney asked whether it could be done in nine days instead — and the teams agreed it was possible. Zelensky said this is why he believes future meetings should be held in settings where even bigger results can be achieved.
Joint Drone Production
The president noted that during his September 10 visit to Canada, the two countries signed a document launching joint drone production. Canada's prime minister, in turn, announced that his country would ramp up drone production and transfer a third of the output to Ukraine.
Zelensky stressed that 30% of these drones would go to Ukraine immediately, helping soldiers protect civilians and families. He expressed hope that a broader agreement between the two nations could be reached in New York.
Prior Commitments
Earlier in the meeting, Carney announced that Canada would allocate 350 million Canadian dollars (about 253 million US dollars) to purchase air defense interceptor missiles for Ukraine, alongside the drone deliveries. On Thursday, Zelensky and Carney also signed a declaration on a 100-year partnership, expressing the two countries' intent to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
