Ukraine is finalising drone deal with Germany, Zelenskiy says

KYIV, Sept 2 (Reuters) - ‌Ukraine is ​finalising ​a drone deal with Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday after a ‌call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The agreement — proposed ⁠by Ukraine several months ago — is expected to cover ‌the joint development of ‌various types of drones, missiles and related software.

"Our teams are already finalising the text of the ​drone deal, and this will, among other things, definitely provide both Germany and Ukraine ⁠with additional defence capabilities," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app.

The deal will ​build on existing German-Ukrainian defence cooperation, including a multi-million-euro programme to supply to ​Kyiv some 15,000 Strila interceptor ‌drones designed to counter Shahed-type attack drones.

In April, German defence technology company Quantum ⁠Systems and Ukrainian manufacturer WIY Drones announced the creation of Quantum WIY Industries, a joint venture focused ⁠on increasing production of interceptor drones and related air-defence technologies.

Germany ​is also funding an order for 50,000 Shrike attack drones produced by Ukrainian manufacturer SkyFall, one of the largest ‌known drone purchases for Kyiv by a Western government.

In a post on X, ‌Zelenskiy said he and Merz discussed the drone ⁠agreement, new German ‌air-defence support and ​plans for an in-person meeting.

(Writing by Felix Hoske; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Gareth ‌Jones)

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