By Hennadiy Faraponov
Aug 5, 2026
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Britain’s Defense Secretary Wes Streeting in Kyiv. Photo: ap.org.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting in Kyiv to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s protection against Russian ballistic missile attacks, expanding defence production, and imposing additional sanctions on Russia’s military-industrial complex.
The Gaze reports this, citing a statement by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This was Streeting’s first visit to the Ukrainian capital since he was appointed UK Secretary of State for Defence on 20 July 2026.
The meeting took place shortly after another large-scale Russian attack on Ukraine. Zelenskyy briefed the British minister on the casualties and destruction caused by the strike, as well as Ukraine’s urgent air-defence needs.
According to the Ukrainian president, Russia intends to significantly increase its production of ballistic missiles ahead of winter. This could enable Moscow to intensify attacks on Ukrainian cities, energy facilities, and other critical infrastructure during the colder months.
The officials discussed how the United Kingdom could help Ukraine counter the growing ballistic threat through both bilateral assistance and broader international initiatives. Zelenskyy emphasised that London had repeatedly supported Ukraine by helping secure scarce military equipment.
A central topic of the talks was the possible co-production of certain types of weapons. Zelenskyy noted that both Ukraine and the United Kingdom possess strong defence capabilities, while Ukrainian technologies and weapons have been tested under real combat conditions.
Defence industrial cooperation has become an increasingly important part of the long-term partnership between the two countries. The UK has already supported technology and intellectual-property sharing with Ukraine, including projects that allow Ukrainian companies to manufacture British-developed defence equipment domestically.
The sides also discussed sanctions against Russian companies involved in producing ballistic missiles. Such restrictions could target manufacturers, suppliers, financial networks, and foreign intermediaries that provide Russia’s defence industry with technologies and components.
“Anything that weakens Russia’s war machine and its reliance on ballistic terror is important,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has repeatedly called on its partners to increase pressure on Russia’s military-industrial complex and restrict its access to foreign equipment. Kyiv has also introduced sanctions against companies supplying machinery and technologies to Russian plants producing missile components.
Zelenskyy thanked the United Kingdom, King Charles III, the British government, and the British people for their continued support of Ukraine.
The talks signal that Kyiv and London intend to deepen their cooperation beyond the direct delivery of weapons. Joint production could allow Ukraine to receive critical equipment more rapidly, increase manufacturing capacity in Europe, and reduce dependence on limited global stockpiles as Russia expands its missile arsenal.
As The Gaze informed earlier Zelenskyy and Lockheed Martin Discuss Joint Production and Technology Exchange.
Read more on The Gaze UK to Provide Electronic Warfare Technology for Ukrainian Drones, Zelenskyy Says.
Nice to have some good news in the midst of such horror.
“A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
That is to say that a friend who helps you when you really need help is a true friend.
It’s not enough of course, but some allies are doing more than others.
I’m feeling there’s too much discussion and little action. I’m tired of seeing these so called joint production crap, chest pounding crap and the accompanying photo ops, that never seem to happen, while our people are dying from ballistic missiles. I wish our so-called partners get off their asses and truly help Ukraine.
Compared to what though Cap?
Last winter the U.K. supplied Zel with Stormshadow long range fires from our unfortunately limited stockpiles and will again this winter.
We don’t have Patriots.
Recently, one of the last things that Starmer did before leaving office was hand the blueprints of Stormshadow to Zel. So that’s not nothing.
The U.K. and Ukraine are already jointly producing attack drones and other variants. So that’s not nothing.
The UK and Ukraine are working on joint production of an interceptor that will be compatible hopefully with Zel’s existing Patriot launchers.
For an exhaustive list of all that the UK are providing in terms of military, humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine, plus the 100 year partnership, you can see it on the website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet/uk-support-to-ukraine-factsheet
It’s about $40 billion so far.
So it’s not nothing. Not enough I grant you, but still ahead of all other countries on Ukraine except possibly Germany.
Furthermore, Wes Streeting is the first allied politician to say “we are with Ukraine until they win.”
So that’s not nothing.
Since 2014, the U.K. has trained 68,000 Ukrainian soldiers and officers. Each year the Ukrainians opt to continue the programmes. My own sources way back in 2016 confirmed how much they appreciate this effort.
The Sun has heartwarming videos of British soldiers saluting farewell to the Ukrainians after each batch returns to war. They bring a lump to the throat.
How about interceptor missiles, how about making allot of noise about of the genocide being created in Ukraine and perhaps, wild idea, help us in a meaningful Gil way like putting dome keys in Ikrzkne and making it a no fly zone Just a thought