Ukraine and Finland have officially cemented their cooperation in the field of unmanned systems production by signing the Drone Deal agreement. This was announced on September 24, 2026, by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his Telegram channel, who noted that Australia would soon join the initiative as well. According to RBC-Ukraine, the meeting took place in New York, where Zelenskyy held talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The signing with Finland became the latest step in a large-scale program to which, according to available data, more than 20 countries around the world have already expressed their readiness to join.
New York Summit: Winter Package and Energy Protection
During the meeting in New York, Zelenskyy emphasized that Finland and Norway are "very strong partners" for Ukraine. The central topics of the negotiations were the so-called "winter package" of aid and the protection of Ukraine's energy infrastructure from Russian attacks. "This is an important step for the joint defense of our people and for an even stronger partnership between our countries. We are always ready to share what has helped us protect lives with our closest friends," the Ukrainian president stated. Earlier, as RBC-Ukraine reported, Ukraine and Norway had already signed the Drone Deal, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in the field of unmanned systems and defense technologies. Thus, the Finnish agreement became a logical continuation of the Norwegian one.
Australian Vector: $60 Million and a New Sanctions Package
In addition to the Finnish and Norwegian tracks, in New York Zelenskyy signed a bilateral security agreement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which, according to the president, "opens even more opportunities to deepen the partnership." Australia made a new defense contribution of $60 million US dollars. In addition, Canberra adopted a new sanctions package against Russian "cronies" and vessels of the shadow fleet. "A very right signal now, when in Europe there are attempts to remove Putin's oligarchs from the sanctions lists. Thank you to the Prime Minister, the government, and all of Australia for your unwavering support," Zelenskyy commented. In response to the Australian initiative, the Ukrainian president assured that Kyiv is ready to share experience and technologies: maritime drones, ground platforms, and AI-based systems. "We agreed that our teams will work on preparing the Drone Deal," he added.
Drone Deal: From Weapon Exports to Joint Production
The Ukrainian Drone Deal initiative is fundamentally different from the classical model of military-technical cooperation. According to RBC-Ukraine, Ukraine does not simply sell drones to partners, but shares combat experience and establishes joint production facilities on the territory of allies. This means the transfer of technologies, personnel training, and the creation of local production chains. As Zelenskyy noted, maritime drones, ground platforms, and AI systems "are not limited to purely combat use and can significantly help strengthen the national security" of partners. Thus, the Drone Deal is becoming a multi-level program combining elements of a defense alliance, technology transfer, and industrial cooperation.
Broad Context: EU and 20+ Countries in the Queue
In parallel with the bilateral agreements, the institutional track is also developing. According to the Liga.net publication, the European Union is also launching its own Drone Deal with Ukraine, allocating 1 billion euros to the drone production program. This indicates that the initiative, which originated as a Ukrainian one, has acquired the contours of a transatlantic and even global defense architecture. More than 20 countries, according to available data, express their desire to join the program. For Ukraine, this means not only additional defense resources but also the consolidation of its position as a technology leader in the field of unmanned systems, tested in real combat conditions.
