Ukraine and Canada are preparing a major drone deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference following their meeting, Zelenskyy reported.
The sides announced that they would sign the deal at the end of September. The agreement is to be prepared within nine days, at Carney’s initiative.
In addition, the countries agreed to launch joint drone production. According to the Ukrainian president, 30% of the drones produced under the agreement will be sent to the frontline immediately.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of the Defence Drone Initiative Marketplace in Canada – a digital marketplace designed to accelerate the procurement and deployment of unmanned systems and counter-drone capabilities. In his view, the Canadian Armed Forces will need millions of drones in the coming years, compared with the 2,000 they have today. The plan is therefore to increase production tenfold, with Canada intending to allocate a third of the output to supporting Ukraine’s defence.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also said Canada was ready to contribute its technologies to the development of the European FREYJA anti-ballistic programme, which Ukraine expects to be ready by the end of 2026.
In addition, Canada confirmed a new package of military assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence.
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The Drone Deal is a new international initiative by Ukraine and its partners aimed at joint production of drones, counter-drone and anti-missile systems, as well as the development of defence-industrial cooperation. In July 2026, Ukraine and the EU signed a framework agreement, following a number of bilateral agreements already concluded with countries in Europe and the Middle East.