Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an Agreement on Enhanced Defence and Security Cooperation in New York on 23 September. The agreement falls under the Drone Deal format. It sets a framework for defence materiel cooperation between the two countries.
According to Finland's Ministry of Defence, the agreement covers technology and knowledge transfer, joint research and development, and joint manufacturing and development of drone technology. It is also meant to simplify export authorisations, the Ministry said.
"This agreement will open significant opportunities for both the Finnish defence industry and for strengthening Ukraine's defence capability," said Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen.
Zelenskyy proposed the agreement to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo when they met in Armenia in early May. The Finnish Ministry of Defence led the negotiations over the summer and early autumn.
"This new agreement both supports Ukraine's defence and is a concrete step towards preparing Finland's defence industry and defence forces for a new, more technologically sophisticated era of warfare," Orpo said.
The agreement comes a month after Finland's Patria and Ukrainian drone manufacturer General Cherry signed a letter of intent on drone production in Finland, as previously reported by NDS.
"The agreement signed by Finland and Ukraine is an important step also for Patria and our objective to initiate drone production in Finland in collaboration with General Cherry," said Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Patria's Defence and Weapon Systems business area.