London, March 17 (QNA) - The British government announced today that London and Kyiv intend to forge a defense partnership to counter the proliferation of low-cost drones.

This announcement comes ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Britain later today.

A British government statement said the UK-Ukraine agreement will enhance defense capabilities against the proliferation of low cost, high tech military hardware, including drones by leveraging Ukrainian expertise in drone interception and the UK's drone manufacturing and supply base.

"Drones, electronic warfare and rapid battlefield innovation are now central to national and economic security, and that has only been further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in the statement.

The agreement includes an investment of 500,000 pounds ($660,000) in a new AI center to be attached to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. (QNA)