Toronto: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on September 12, 2026 that Ukraine and Canada are close to signing a new bilateral drone deal, during a meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Canada. According to the official website of the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Canada are already seeing the results of joint defence production, with three jointly produced products demonstrated during his Canada visit and two already in mass production. He said there is “tremendous potential” for expanding cooperation in this area. The Ukrainian president also highlighted the newly signed Ukraine–Canada Declaration for a 100-Year Partnership, calling it a historic step in bilateral relations. The document was signed by Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on September 10. Defence cooperation at the centre Zelenskyy said Canada’s new defence support package will primarily be used to acquire missiles for Patriot air-defence systems. He stressed that continued defence assistance and stronger sanctions pressure on Russia remain priorities for Ukraine. The announcement also follows a September 11 presentation in Canada involving Ukrainian drones, joint Ukrainian-Canadian developments and component manufacturers, demonstrating that the two countries are moving beyond conventional aid toward industrial cooperation. Canadian-Ukrainian community mobilised The Toronto meeting brought together representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ukrainian World Congress, Canada-Ukraine Foundation, Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada and Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada, among other organisations. Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian community has historically played an important role in strengthening ties between the two countries and argued that Ukraine-Canada relations should now be developed strategically at an even higher level. (President.gov.ua) He also said Ukraine wants to open all EU negotiating clusters by the end of 2026 and urged continued Canadian advocacy for Ukraine’s European integration and security relationship with the EU and NATO. Why this is significant The most immediate new element in the September 12 first-party announcement is Zelenskyy’s statement that Ukraine and Canada are close to signing the drone deal. That would deepen the defence relationship beyond financial and military assistance into joint production and defence-technology cooperation. The development follows the 100-year partnership declaration and the new defence and energy cooperation documents signed during Zelenskyy’s Canadian visit, indicating a broader effort to institutionalise Ukraine-Canada relations for the long term. Post navigation Fast-Moving Massive Wildfires in Turkey’s Coastal Forests, Forcing Evacuations in Muğla and Antalya
