Ukraine and Estonia sign Drone Deal on cooperation in unmanned technology
Ukraine and Estonia have signed a Drone Deal agreement on cooperation in unmanned technology on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, as reported by European Pravda
Details: During a meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal signed an agreement on cooperation in unmanned technology. Michal described it as a major step forward in defence cooperation between Estonia and Ukraine.
Quote from Michal: "This strengthens Estonia's defence, creates new opportunities for our defence industry and will help us support Ukraine even more effectively. Ukraine is no longer just a recipient of security, it is becoming a provider of security for Europe."
More details: The content of the agreement has not been made public, but Michal told ERR that the deal will allow Estonian companies to launch drone production based on Ukrainian experience.
Quote from Michal: "For Estonia, the agreement means that Ukrainian knowledge and skills, which are currently the best in the world and developing rapidly under wartime conditions, will become available to our companies. For our companies, this means that production can be set up in Estonia. Ukraine only signs such agreements with its closest friends."
More details: Michal described the most important element of the agreement as Estonia gaining access to the unique knowledge and experience Ukraine has acquired recently.
The agreement also provides for the possibility of Estonia purchasing products from Ukrainian companies in future, including those still at the development stage.
Quote from Michal: "There is a clause stating that we plan to do this. Of course, specific decisions are always made during defence planning, and we have not yet agreed on the specifics."
More details: There is also a clause on the possibility of joint production in Estonia.
Michal explained that the agreement, which was due to be signed alongside Ukraine's Drone Deal with Latvia on the sidelines of the Nordic-Baltic Eight summit in Tallinn, had been postponed for technical reasons.
Michal said he and Zelenskyy discussed at their bilateral meeting the steps Estonia and Europe could take to force Russia to make concessions. They also discussed Europe's role in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, stressing that Europe should not simply act as a mediator.
They also discussed the next Ukraine Recovery Conference, which Estonia will host in January 2027.
Background:
- It was reported earlier that Ukraine hopes to sign major defence agreements with at least seven NATO member states by the end of the year.
- On 29 June, Zelenskyy also discussed the Drone Deal initiative with Denmark's defence minister.
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