Ukraine and Slovenia Move Toward Drone Deal, Eye Joint Defense Production

Ukraine and Slovenia are moving ahead with plans for a new defense cooperation agreement centered on drones and joint production, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday following talks with a Slovenian government delegation in Kyiv.

Zelenskyy met Slovenia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Tone Kajzer and Defense Minister Valentin Hajdinjak, who traveled to Ukraine alongside representatives of leading Slovenian companies.

“Our countries are working on the Drone Deal, and we discussed the first results and joint defense projects that we can implement,” Zelenskyy said following the meeting.

Neither side disclosed the companies involved or details of individual projects.

The Ukrainian president’s office said the discussions covered opportunities to establish production facilities and expand industrial cooperation. Slovenia is particularly interested in Ukraine’s experience and expertise developed during the war, according to the statement.

Ukraine expands Drone Deal network

Ukraine has been building a network of bilateral Drone Deals with partner countries as it seeks to turn its rapidly developed defense technologies into longer-term industrial partnerships.

The framework can cover joint weapons production, localization, technology transfer, research and development, investment in production capacity and the exchange of operational experience.

Ukraine signed its ninth agreement under the Drone Deal framework in July, while negotiations with around 20 additional countries were at various stages at the time. Previous agreements have included plans for joint production of drones, air defense systems, sensors, ammunition and other defense technologies.

A Slovenian agreement could give local companies access to Ukraine’s battlefield experience in unmanned systems while creating new production and export opportunities for Ukrainian defense manufacturers.

The two sides also discussed potential cooperation through the European Union’s SAFE defense financing instrument, which Kyiv said could support projects aimed at strengthening the security capabilities of both countries.

Slovenia commits $50 million through PURL

The talks come as Slovenia increases its broader defense support for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy thanked Ljubljana for a $50 million contribution to the NATO-backed Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, initiative, which is used to finance priority military requirements for Ukraine.

Slovenia has also said it intends to continue supporting Ukraine while increasing its own defense capabilities. Prime Minister Janez Janša said earlier this week that Slovenia expects to reach NATO’s 2% of GDP defense spending target this year.

The planned Drone Deal would move the relationship further toward industrial cooperation, connecting Slovenian manufacturing capabilities with Ukraine’s rapidly expanding defense technology sector.