Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the agreement in New York on 23 September 2026. Zelenskyy proposed the initiative to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo when they met in Armenia in early May.
The agreement was negotiated during the summer and early autumn under the leadership of Finland’s Ministry of Defence. It forms part of the Drone Deal format and will enable closer cooperation on defence materiel.
“Ukraine has developed its defence capability and industry in ways we can learn a lot from in Finland,” Orpo said. “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.”
The accord will support transfers of technology and knowledge between Finland and Ukraine. It will also facilitate joint research, innovation, manufacturing and drone technology development involving companies from both countries.
The two governments plan to streamline administrative procedures covering defence-industrial cooperation. This includes simplifying export authorisations to make transfers of defence materiel and technology more efficient.
“For months, the Finnish Ministry of Defence has been negotiating this agreement intensively with Ukraine,” Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said. “We found a way to advance both our countries’ objectives.”
“This agreement will open significant opportunities for both the Finnish defence industry and for strengthening Ukraine’s defence capability,” Häkkänen said. “It will bring our excellent cooperation to a whole new level.”
The framework also supports Patria’s plan to establish drone production in Finland with Ukrainian manufacturer Center of Unmanned Technologies, known as General Cherry. The companies signed a letter of intent in August 2026.
“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. “The collaboration will support the development of Europe’s defence capabilities and Patria’s aim to be a pioneer in defence technologies and an innovative product developer.”
The agreement is intended to connect Ukrainian operational and industrial expertise with Finland’s defence sector. It also provides a formal basis for closer cooperation between the two countries’ authorities and companies.
