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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a press conference at his office in Kyiv on the 14th (local time). / Courtesy of AFP, Yonhap News

Zelensky signs drone deals with Denmark, Estonia, and the Netherlands

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed drone cooperation agreements with Denmark, Estonia, and the Netherlands, Reuters reported on July 7 (local time).

President Zelensky, who is attending the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey as an invited guest, announced the agreements on X (formerly Twitter).

"We are providing these nations with the expertise we have gained from more than four years of war with Russia," Zelensky said. "With these additions, Ukraine has now secured a total of nine drone-related accords."

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine possessed limited expertise in the sector. Over the course of the ongoing war, however, the country has built a highly sophisticated domestic drone industry.

Announcing the pact with Copenhagen, Zelensky noted that the agreement "opens up greater opportunities for joint defense production, the exchange of expertise, and transparency in weapons exports."

"Denmark was the first country to propose joint production inside Ukraine," Zelensky emphasized. "It is absolutely fair that Denmark will now have access to Ukrainian exports of weapons tested in war."

In addition to the three countries added today, Ukraine has systematically signed drone cooperation deals with Nordic and Baltic partners—including Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Norway, Finland, and Azerbaijan—since February.

The new agreements come amid intensifying Russian aggression back home. Recent Russian ballistic missile strikes targeting major cities, including Kyiv, on July 2 and 6 resulted in dozens of civilian casualties, underscoring Ukraine's urgent need for reinforced air defenses.

Following the first day of the NATO summit, Zelensky reiterated his objectives on X, stating that his primary goals remain "securing more air defense capabilities and establishing a stronger diplomatic position."

With European nations acutely aware of the direct and indirect security threats posed by Russia's protracted war, a broad consensus has emerged across the continent on the necessity of collective defense.

Analysts note that these drone partnerships represent more than mere arms transactions; they serve as a symbolic framework to reinforce Europe’s broader security architecture through joint manufacturing, technology transfers, and integrated air defense networks.

                                                                                                           Park Jin-sook