Kyiv, July 15 (SANA)European Commission PresidentUrsulavon der Leyen announced on Wednesday the launch of a new defense industrial partnership between the European Union andUkraineduring a visit to Kyiv.

According to Italy’s AKI news agency, von der Leyen made the announcement while receiving the “first-ever Order of Europe” from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Every day, Ukraine is making Europe stronger,” von der Leyen said, adding that the country had, in many respects, evolved “Ukraine has – in many ways – gone from being a buyer to a net security provider for Europe,” requiring a new approach to joint cooperation.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine had developed unique expertise in operating and countering drone systems, covering drone technology and production, supply chains, radar systems, ground stations and sensor technologies.

She stressed that Europe should benefit from this expertise collectively, noting that several EU member states have experienced drone incursions, underscoring the importance of strengthening capabilities in this field.

On Tuesday, the European Union launched a new stage in accession negotiations with Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to accelerate its bid for membership, despite the lengthy negotiation process that remains ahead.