UKRAINE intends to forge a defense deal with the Philippines, which would allow both countries to co-produce drones that the Armed Forces of the Philippines could use to remotely patrol the West Philippine Sea.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Manila Yuliia Fediv said a defense delegation from Ukraine is expected to arrive in the Philippines in October to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to seal this agreement.

Fediv made the announcement during the Special Forum on Ukraine-Philippines Landscape organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands.

Fediv said Ukraine “is now developing different [drone] models.” Kyiv has sent proposals to countries all over the world on “how we can co-produce [drones], and how we can exchange our knowledge and technologies,” she said.

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Fediv said the co-production of drones would be one of the topics to be discussed during the meeting. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has already sent a draft memorandum of understanding to the Department of National Defense regarding this, she said.

“We are open for cooperation, but I think the first step needed is to sign the agreement on defense between Ukraine and the Philippine government to create this legal framework,” she said.

“We [are now] awaiting for an answer [from the DND]. Then we can move forward with co-production [of drones],” Fediv said.

She also said that Ukraine is interested in cybersecurity cooperation with the Philippines.

“The Philippines, as I mentioned several times... you are our reliable partner in the region. That’s why we are open to share with you all the lessons [we] learned [from our situation],” Fediv said.