What the Ratification of the 100-Year Partnership Agreement with the United Kingdom Means for Ukraine

The ratified agreement creates a long-term framework for cooperation in defense, economy, energy, and technology, reinforcing Ukraine’s security and accelerating its integration into the Western strategic space.

On September 17, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified Bill No. 0332, approving the agreement on a 100-year partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The document was signed on January 16, 2025, and covers a broad range of areas, including defense and security, economy, energy, science and technology, justice, information security, education, culture, social policy, and migration.

The agreement consists of two parts — an open section and a classified section. According to Ukrainian officials, the confidential provisions are designed to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term resilience and development capacity amid ongoing security threats.

Read more in the article by Anton Kuchukhidze, political scientist and foreign policy analyst, expert at the “United Ukraine” Think Tank

One of the core elements of the agreement is its defense component. The United Kingdom commits to providing Ukraine with military assistance of at least £3.6 billion annually until the 2030/31 financial year, with further support to follow as required.

This assistance includes:

• training for Ukrainian military personnel, including pilots;
• the supply of military aviation;
• joint weapons production, particularly in the fields of drones and artillery systems.

A separate emphasis is placed on maritime security. The agreement envisages the establishment of a new framework to enhance security in the Baltic, Black, and Azov Seas, strengthening the ability to counter long-term, systemic threats to freedom of navigation — a critical issue amid Russia’s continued military pressure.

The agreement defines the United Kingdom as a priority partner for Ukraine’s energy sector, particularly in the extraction of critical minerals and the production of so-called “green” steel. This aligns Ukraine more closely with Europe’s broader decarbonization and clean-energy agenda.

Cooperation in science, technology, and innovation includes:

• partnerships between universities;
• participation in projects related to unmanned systems, agrotechnologies, and space;
• integration into international research and development networks.

These measures can contribute to the modernization of Ukraine’s technological base, increased exports of high-tech products, and deeper inclusion in global scientific and industrial value chains.

The energy component also covers cooperation in clean energy, climate policy, and attracting investment to modernize Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Beyond defense and economics, the agreement addresses areas critical to state resilience.

Provisions on justice reform and anti-corruption efforts aim to strengthen institutional legitimacy and improve Ukraine’s investment climate. Cooperation in information security and countering disinformation is another key pillar, reflecting the hybrid nature of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The cultural and educational dimensions — including student exchanges, university cooperation, and joint academic programs — are designed to build human capital and align Ukraine more closely with Western standards in education and research.

The ratification of the 100-year partnership agreement with the United Kingdom provides Ukraine with significant opportunities to strengthen its defense capabilities and predictability in military, economic, energy, and scientific-technological relations. This is a signal to other partners that Ukraine is becoming a long-term center of cooperation.

Read more in the article by Anton Kuchukhidze on The Gaze:
What the Ratification of the 100-Year Partnership Agreement with the United Kingdom Means for Ukraine