# Belgium and Ukraine Push Toward New Drone Cooperation Deal > Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and President Volodymyr Zelensky say teams from both countries are drafting the text of a new drone agreement meant to strengthen Ukraine's defenses against Russian air attacks. - Source: Belgium Crown - Canonical URL: https://belgiumcrown.com/article/belgium-and-ukraine-push-toward-new-drone-cooperation-deal - Author: Belgium Crown Staff - Section: Europe - Published: 2026-08-19T11:49:42.286Z - Updated: 2026-08-19T11:49:42.286Z - Tags: Ukraine, drone deal, Maxime Prevot, Volodymyr Zelensky, defense cooperation, EU membership --- Belgium and Ukraine are working toward a new agreement on drones, with officials from both governments saying the text is close enough that they are already discussing when it could be signed. The talks were confirmed on Monday following a meeting between Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said the proposed deal would give Ukraine greater protection against Russian strikes and framed it as part of a broader effort to share the country's wartime experience with drone technology among its partners. Kyiv has built up extensive expertise in both offensive and defensive drone systems since Russia's full scale invasion, and officials have increasingly positioned that knowledge as something Ukraine can offer allies in return for continued support. ## Belgium's financial and military backing The drone talks come alongside a wider package of Belgian support. Brussels has pledged more than 1.1 billion euros, roughly 1.3 billion dollars, in assistance to Ukraine for 2026. That figure includes additional F-16 fighter jets and spare parts for aircraft already delivered, building on earlier Belgian commitments of combat aviation support. Prevot also addressed Ukraine's path toward European Union membership during the meeting, linking the anti-corruption reforms Kyiv has been asked to carry out to the broader goal of accession. He said those reforms are designed to protect citizens, build public trust, and make the country more resilient, arguing that the changes serve Ukraine's own interests independent of the timeline for joining the bloc. ## What comes next No signing date has been set for the drone agreement. Ukrainian and Belgian negotiators are continuing to work through the details of the text, and officials from both sides indicated the cooperation would cover both bilateral support and coordination within wider European defense efforts. Belgium has positioned itself as a continued backer of Ukraine's EU membership bid even as the accession process moves slowly through its various stages. --- Originally published by Belgium Crown. Free to cite with attribution and a link to https://belgiumcrown.com/article/belgium-and-ukraine-push-toward-new-drone-cooperation-deal.