Parliamentary Meeting in Kyiv
Members of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence met in Kyiv with a delegation from the Defense Committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland to discuss the deepening of bilateral security cooperation and defense partnership.
The meeting focused on joint defense production, the use of frozen Russian assets in British jurisdiction, participation in international defense programs, and strengthening Ukraine’s air and missile defense systems.
Strengthening Industrial and Financial Cooperation
Oleksandr Zavitnevych, Chairman of the National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee, emphasized that Ukraine’s defense capability is a key element of European security.
“Ukraine is part of European security, and we call for 0.25% of the GDP of each partner country to be directed to supporting our defense industry and domestic production. This is not charity, but an investment in the stability and security of the entire European continent,”
— Zavitnevych said.
According to him, the discussion also covered:
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Joint initiatives in defense industry cooperation;
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Mechanisms for using frozen Russian assets in British jurisdiction to fund defense needs;
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The possibility of Ukraine joining the PURL defense program;
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Sanctions reinforcement and international pressure on the Russian Federation;
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Additional support in weapons supply, including modern systems such as Tomahawk cruise missiles;
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Expansion of security guarantees and creation of an air defense shield for Ukraine.
United Kingdom’s Contribution to Ukraine’s Defense
Zavitnevych thanked the UK for its consistent and large-scale assistance, highlighting several key contributions:
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£4.5 billion in security and defense aid;
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Early delivery of hundreds of air-defense missiles;
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Financial assistance in stabilizing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure;
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£2 billion funding within the KINDRED program aimed at industrial cooperation and energy resilience.
These actions, he noted, make the United Kingdom one of Ukraine’s most active and reliable security partners in Europe.
Expanding Joint Ventures and Employment
According to the press service of the Verkhovna Rada, more than 30 joint ventures between Ukrainian and British companies are already operating — strengthening Ukraine’s defense capacity, creating jobs, and integrating Ukrainian production into NATO supply chains.
The sides reaffirmed their commitment to long-term cooperation, both in weapons manufacturing and technology transfer, emphasizing that a strong Ukrainian defense industry is essential for the security architecture of Europe as a whole.
