On April 14, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Germany and Norway to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere. During these visits, the European leaders discussed defense cooperation between Germany, Norway, and Ukraine. They also addressed drone production, with Ukraine offering its expertise and technology to both countries. In exchange, Germany and Ukraine agreed to a €4 billion defense package while Norway pledged to continue assisting Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s visits to Berlin and Oslo on April 14 came shortly after he and other Ukrainian officials met with their counterparts in Turkey as well as countries across the Middle East in late March and early April. During these diplomatic visits, the Ukrainians offered their drone expertise to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, Zelenskyy signed long-term military cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. He also discussed defense and security issues with leaders from these countries. In exchange for the drone expertise and technology, the Ukrainians are set to receive missile interceptors, financial assistance, and oil and diesel supplies.
The defense agreements established by Ukraine with Germany, Norway, and countries in the Middle East are part of a broader pattern that has taken shape throughout 2026. Over the past few months, Zelenskyy and Ukrainian representatives have met with elected officials, policymakers, and members of the defense industry in countries across Europe and the Middle East. For example, the BBC reported in February that a manufacturing factory had opened in the United Kingdom to create drones using Ukraine’s technology and expertise. Ukrainian drone manufacturing company Ukrspecsystems has established a facility in Mildenhall to produce the drones. Once built, the drones would be tested at Elmsett Airfield before being sent to soldiers in Ukraine. Rory Chamberlain, the managing director of Ukrspecsystems in the UK, also told the BBC that the drone manufacturing plant in the UK would create “hundreds of jobs.”
Since the creation of this drone manufacturing plant in the UK, other similar facilities have emerged throughout Europe. In February, France 24 reported that the Danish government was in talks with Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyfall. France 24 added that Denmark is aiming to begin production this year. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also told France 24 that “bringing strong Ukrainian defense companies to Denmark to work together with [the] Danish industry [would] strengthen the security of both Denmark and Ukraine.”
Then, in March, Ukraine and Romania signed an agreement that would include joint defense production on Romanian territory. Finally, Ukrainian officials signed framework agreements with Finland, Denmark, and Latvia this year, which include joint production of unmanned systems.
The defense relationships Ukraine has established during the first few months of this calendar year suggest that Ukraine’s role in the defense community and the international arena is changing. Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, elected officials, policymakers, and academics questioned Ukraine’s role in European defense and security. They noted that “Ukraine’s defense industry was of modest size by European standards.” Additionally, these critics argued that Ukraine needed to reform its military and defense acquisition sector.
Now, with Russia’s military incursion in its fifth year, countries around the world have welcomed Ukraine’s defense, technology, and security expertise. For example, the Ukrainian Armed Forces and defense manufacturers have produced and deployed drones to be used against Russian forces. These drones have been used to target Russian ammunition depots, vehicles, and soldiers during the war. Furthermore, Ukrainian drones are cost-effective and have delivered results on the battlefield. Most recently, there have been reports this year of Russian soldiers surrendering to Ukrainian drones and other machines manufactured by Ukrainians.
Given the results of these battle-tested drones, politicians and defense officials, particularly from NATO and the European Union, have welcomed discussions with their Ukrainian counterparts to gain access to Ukrainian drone technology. NATO officials have invited Ukrainians to participate in training exercises and simulations to showcase the use of Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, the EU has committed to purchasing €2 billion worth of Ukrainian drones. The actions by NATO and the EU suggest that they are taking Ukraine’s drone manufacturing and the use of drones seriously, and that they are starting to view Ukraine as a serious contributor and partner to Europe on security and defense matters.
As Ukraine continues to engage with allies and partners worldwide to discuss its defense and drone technology, policymakers, security experts, and defense officials will be keen to see how these drones operate. For Ukraine, these partnerships represent not only immediate battlefield support, but also a foundation for its long-term commitment and role in European defense and security.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com