The existing cooperation in the field of drone production between London and Kyiv, which is currently helping Ukraine resist Russian aggression, will also contribute to the development of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex in peacetime.

This was stated by British Defense Minister John Healy at a joint press conference with Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after the meeting of the Contact Group on Ukrainian Defense in Brussels, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He noted that the example of cooperation between Ukraine and the UK demonstrates that supporting the Ukrainian defense industry is not only a direct way to support Ukrainian defense efforts, but also a way in which we can combine, in the case of the Octopus interceptor drones, innovations from Ukraine, their combat experience directly from the battlefield, with modern design and mass production technologies that we can apply in the UK.

The Minister of Defense explained that this will help increase the supply of weapons that Ukraine needs.

We can also set up Ukrainian industry, Ukrainian companies, so that they can serve the Western market in peacetime, - said Gili.

In addition to establishing closer relations today, such cooperation lays the foundation for the future after the war, the minister concluded.

When asked whether Ukraine is now perceived as a factor contributing to European security, Ghee said: The simple answer is yes.

"When I say that a secure Europe requires a strong and sovereign Ukraine, I mean that Ukraine teaches us to see the rapid evolution of the nature of warfare, cutting-edge innovations and combat methods. We have been able to learn from Ukraine for some time now," he said.

The minister added that Ukraine is increasingly recognized and understood as playing a role in training the forces of other NATO countries.

Also, in response to recent incursions into NATO airspace, Ukraine has stepped up and responded in a practical manner, the Defense Minister added.

As Ukrinform reported, British Defense Minister John Healy said that his country is carefully studying the prospect of joining NATO's PURL initiative to purchase American weapons for Ukraine, but at the moment it is already providing Ukraine with assistance, some of which is unique.