Britain and Ukraine to cooperate on drone exports

Britain and Ukraine agreed to cooperate on the sale of drone technology abroad during a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. Four years after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has become a world leader in drone and anti-drone technology.

As a close ally, Britain is keen to help Ukraine use that position to support the Gulf states, which are regularly targeted by Iran, not least with the Shahed drones that Tehran has supplied to Moscow and which have become one of Russia’s key weapons.

Zelenskyy said more than 200 Ukrainians are deployed in the Middle East and the Gulf region, where they have been sent at the request of partners, including the US.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that allies must not be distracted in their support for Ukraine by the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Ukraine and its European allies also criticised a temporary waiver issued by the US last week allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products stranded at sea.

(reuters, im)