KABUL (Pajhwok): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has signed three more drone production agreements with Denmark, Estonia and the Netherlands, a media report said on Wednesday.
Reuters reported that Zelenskyy announced the agreements on Tuesday on social media on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, the Turkish capital, saying the latest deals brought the total number of Ukraine’s defence production agreements with partner countries to nine.
According to Zelenskyy, the agreements will pave the way for joint production of defence equipment, the exchange of expertise and greater transparency in arms exports.
Speaking about the agreement with Denmark, he said the country was the first to propose joint defence production in Ukraine and would now gain access to Ukrainian-made weapons that had been tested in combat.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has developed an advanced drone manufacturing industry and has used experience gained during more than four years of war to expand defence cooperation with other countries.
On the sidelines of the NATO summit, Zelenskyy also said Ukraine’s priorities were to strengthen its air defence systems and improve the country’s diplomatic position.
He again stressed the need to enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
His remarks came as the death toll from Russia’s latest missile strike on Kyiv on Monday rose to 19.
hz/kk
