New UK agreement: financial aid, deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine. Serhiy Zgurets’ column

100-year partnership agreement 

The UK has been consistently supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities, providing Storm Shadow missiles, air defense systems, drones, and naval drones. During his visit, Starmer, alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, signed a 100-year partnership agreement, which will serve as the foundation for further cooperation. As part of the agreement, the British Prime Minister announced new projects. Firstly, a financial aid package of €6 billion per year will be provided, using interest from frozen Russian financial assets. Secondly, Ukraine will receive a new short-range air defense system. Two such systems were already tested in September, and 15 more will be delivered this year. The system, the size of a shipping container, is equipped with air-to-air missiles, which means it can use Ukrainian missiles, likely the R-73, which have proven effective in downing Russian Mi-8 helicopters.

Another area of military aid involves the provision of a significant number of artillery barrels. The UK has already supplied AS-90 and L119 self-propelled howitzers with 155mm and 105mm calibers, respectively. Now, barrels will be provided to replace the worn-out ones, offering substantial support to Ukraine's artillery on the battlefield.

Deployment of French, British peacekeepers to Ukraine

This visit coincided with several publications by European media discussing the possible involvement of French and British troops as peacekeepers in Ukraine. During a Ramstein meeting, President Zelenskyy noted that the deployment of foreign contingents is an important tool for pressuring Russia into peace. Zelenskyy and the British Prime Minister likely discussed this issue. The Guardian writes that three potential scenarios for the involvement of foreign troops in such missions include monitoring a buffer zone, deploying troops around Kyiv, and training and supporting air defense in western Ukraine.

However, all these scenarios are journalistic interpretations of the situation. The main issue is that this is only possible if a peace agreement is reached between Kyiv and Moscow. Currently, the main and most realistic option for Europe is to provide maximum support to Ukraine with weapons and develop its defense industry. Europe, without the Ukrainian army, will not be able to deter Russian aggression.

During his visit to Poland, President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of deterring Russia. This is the most important task for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukraine must take a series of steps related to changes in command structures and approaches to military training. Western countries will not help much in this regard. This is Ukraine's homework, which it must complete quickly and effectively.

Ukrainian defense industry

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that this year, 34% of the Ukrainian army's needs are met through the work of domestic defense enterprises. The rest is supplied by European and American companies, making 34% an exceptionally high figure. It’s important to consider some details. Not all aspects can be addressed by Ukraine's defense industry, but there are types of weaponry that are truly competitive and effective on the battlefield. For example, reconnaissance systems from the company Athlon Avia, such as the Furia A1-SM artillery fire adjustment systems in various versions.

Artem Vyunnyk, director of Athlon Avia, spoke about the transformation of the system. The dynamics of combat evolve quickly, and no manufacturer can remain static — they must constantly develop their products. The philosophy of production and development is also changing. Leading companies in this field recognize the need to anticipate future challenges and act proactively.

“The Furia system is also evolving. Its components and design are being updated. We are in the final stages of introducing a new airframe that will provide longer flight time and range, as well as enable the integration of more powerful and diverse payloads. In the future, we anticipate the adoption of new technologies, artificial intelligence, and maximum automation of the systems,” said Vyunnyk.

To realize these plans, stable funding, consistent orders, and timely payments for delivered systems are essential. The company collaborates with all clients, including Ukraine's State Service for Special Communications, the Defense Procurement Agency, and the Ministry of Defense’s Department. Work is quite effective within the framework of existing defense planning. However, there are no three-year contracts, according to the director of Athlon Avia.

"Moreover, this year, the Ministry of Defense has not settled payments for the products delivered at the end of the year. I hope this is just a technical delay, but such a situation hasn’t occurred in 10 years. When there’s a clear vision of the future and accurate forecasting, businesses invest more money in development. This applies not only to R&D but also to improving production capacities. The level of awareness among users, clients, and the market itself is now on a completely different level. To remain a progressive company, one must meet standards across all areas: material and technical base, production philosophy, and human capital management, among others. There are specific requests regarding capabilities for 2025, 2026, and even 2027, but such requests, often received from the Defense Procurement Agency, never materialize into serious contracts. Yes, we have some deliveries for the Defense Procurement Agency, but these represent only a fraction of our actual capacity. Our company is effectively loaded only for the first three months of this year, with the first month already over. Currently, it’s unclear what to do next and in what volumes to deliver. The General Staff has identified significant needs, not just for our products, in response to the tasks set by the President. However, the process of budget formation and procurement planning is very complex. We expect clarity soon," Vyunnyk explained.

According to him, dismantling the institution of military representatives is not a good idea at this time. The issues with mines were localized, and eliminating all representatives is a strange way to address the problem. While Ukraine is moving towards state-guaranteed quality and European procedures, changing approaches during wartime could significantly complicate processes. For instance, standard testing of equipment already in service might be halted. If military representatives are eliminated without implementing proper solutions for how to proceed, Ukraine won’t be able to introduce significant improvements to equipment configurations. This matter requires a balanced approach, Vyunnyk believes.