Zelenskyy and Britain's new leader discuss drone projects and missile defense for Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and newly appointed U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham met on Monday at a British naval base to discuss joint defense initiatives. The talks focused on collaborative drone projects and Ukraine's urgent requirement for ballistic missile interceptors to counter ongoing Russian attacks. Downing Street stated that the meeting was intended to underscore Britain's steadfast and unwavering support for Ukraine.

During the discussions, the Ukrainian delegation emphasized pressing capability timelines. A senior official, Deputy Secretary Davyd Aloian, stated that Kyiv wants a prototype for a European anti-ballistic system codenamed Freyja to be ready within the first half of next year, pushing allies to help deliver a weapon capable of downing Russian missiles by mid-2027.