Zelenskyy says Ukraine has a ‘drone deal’ with Canada in the works

OTTAWA — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country has started preparations for a military drone deal with Canada, though the government offered no confirmation of such an agreement Tuesday.

“We have also begun preparations for the drone deal with Canada. This is a very significant expansion of our security co-operation,” Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post Monday.

He wrote that 20 countries are already working with Ukraine on similar deals. Ukrainian officials have in the past said those deals will supply other nations with some of the advanced drone technology Kyiv has developed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion four years ago, and will arrange for the construction of drones in joint ventures.

The Canadian Press has reached out to National Defence Minister David McGuinty and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand for comment. Global Affairs Canada referred queries to the Department of National Defence and no one from the government provided a statement by deadline.

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said last August that the defence departments in Canada and Ukraine signed a letter of intent “to co-produce defence materials in both countries.” It did not refer specifically to drones.

Canadian officials told senators last November they had seen little progress on efforts to find economic opportunities for Canadian firms in Ukraine in sectors like drone manufacturing, in part because those companies were worried about the physical safety of their staff and investments.

They said possible Canadian investments in Ukraine could involve mining or infrastructure development.

Earlier this week, Anand co-chaired a meeting in Brussels on efforts to secure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russian officials through a coalition Canada has helped steer since 2024.

On Monday, Anand announced sanctions on 23 individuals and five entities Ottawa says have been involved in offences against Ukrainian children.

She also signed a convention that seeks to establish an international claims commission in the hopes of one day securing compensation from Russia for the war.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 12, 2026.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press