In a visit to the UK on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed deploying Ukrainian drone interception teams and radar systems to British bases in Cyprus.
During his visit, Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, along with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, addressed British MPs, and met King Charles III. In his speech to MPs, he thanked the UK for its consistent support since the start of Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022.
According to reports, the UK and Ukraine are set to agree a new partnership to boost global defensive capability against the proliferation of low cost, high tech military hardware, including drones.
Ukrainian support for bases in Cyprus
In refererence to the British Bases in Cyprus, he said: “This is what Ukraine’s security proposal could look like. […] Our specialists would deploy interception teams and install radar and acoustic coverage.
“If Iran were to launch a large‑scale attack similar to Russian strikes, we would guarantee protection,” he said, adding, “this is the kind of reinforcement we are providing – and which the whole of Europe may soon need.”
He further warned that “drones can be launched not only from land, but from ships at sea. Long‑range attacks of this type are no longer rare.” Zelenskyy stressed that several countries already use such tactics.
Continued support for Ukraine
Starmer and Zelenskyy discussed expanding Britain’s military assistance to Ukraine, which London has been providing for four years, including the training of Ukrainian forces and cooperation in the defence industry. Starmer reiterated his commitment to stand by Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” emphasising that Europe’s security is directly linked to the outcome of the war. He also announced an expansion of the UK’s training programmes for Ukrainian troops.
Trump-Starmer should find 'common ground'
In an interview with the BBC, Zelensky said that while he would not tell US President Donald Trump what to do, he would propose that Trump and Starmer meet to find “common ground to recharge their relationship.” At the same time, he expressed concern about “division among leaders” in the West, saying he had a “very bad feeling” about the impact such divisions could have on the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.
Zelensky’s visit to London forms part of a wider round of diplomatic contacts with European partners. From London, he went to Madrid to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Source: CNA