Conference

11 Years of Resistance: Advancing the Strategic Partnership between Great Britain and Ukraine

September 8, 2025 / UK Parliament

Briefly about the event

Over 100 participants — parliamentarians, government officials, diplomats, military personnel, defense industry leaders, experts, and business representatives — gathered in the House of Commons to discuss the future of the long-term strategic partnership between Great Britain and Ukraine.

The event served as a key platform for a frank dialogue on defense, technology, recovery, and Europe’s new security architecture.

Conference opening

Welcome Speaches:

  • Johanna Baxter, MP
  • Denys Demko, Embassy of Ukraine in the UK
  • Hélène Banna, PGA

Moderators:

  • Paul Mason
  • Victoria Vdovychenko
  • Lyudmyla Tautiieva

Panel 1. A 100-Year Partnership: New Opportunities for European Defense

  • Speakers: Priti Patel MP, Fedir Venyslavskyi MP, Colonel Pavlo Khazan, Ihor Fedirko (UCDI), Rear Admiral Tim Woods (UK MOD)

Key theses:

  • The 100-Year Partnership Agreement is a strategic framework that must be translated into concrete actions.
  • The partnership must be integrated into the broader European defense security system.
  • New opportunities for joint programs, defense innovations, and military cooperation.

Panel 2. Defence Tech & Drones: The Future of War is Already Here

  • Speakers: Andrii Hrytseniuk (BRAVE1), Volodymyr Kravtsov (ARMADA), James Black (RAND Europe), Bob Seely MP, Halyna Yanchenko MP

Key theses:

  • Drones have changed the nature of modern warfare, partially replacing artillery and naval fleets.
  • Ukraine has demonstrated how rapidly the defense industry can develop in a partnership between the state and the private sector.
  • Unique opportunities for British-Ukrainian cooperation in the manufacturing and scaling of technologies.
  • The UAV market is growing exponentially: Ukraine's target for 2025 is 4.5 million units.

Panel 3. Recovery and Security: The Foundation for Investment and Sustainable Development

  • Speakers: Alex Sobel MP, Orysya Lutsevych (Chatham House), Artem Shevalev (EBRD), Andriy Kolodyuk (AVentures Capital), Brooks Newmark (Trypillian)

Key theses:

  • Recovery is impossible without security.
  • Investments, regional development, and the active role of civil society must be linked to strengthening defense capabilities.
  • Ukraine can become a model of resilience and transformational development for Europe.

Key conference outcome

  • Frankly outlined challenges and opportunities in the partnership between Ukraine and Great Britain.
  • The strategic importance of defense cooperation was confirmed.
  • It was shown that Ukrainian technologies, tested in war, are capable of enhancing the security of all of Europe.
  • It was proven that cooperation in drone manufacturing and innovations will strengthen continental defense infrastructure.