Greek media: Ukraine sets conditions for joint-production of sea drones Kyiv wants input on how Athens deploys shared drones during conflict

Greece and Ukraine’s plans to jointly produce unmanned surface vessels (USVs) have run into friction, as Kyiv reportedly seeks a say in how the systems would be deployed during military engagement.

The agreement, reached last November, envisioned building sea drones based on Ukrainian technology, with production partly relocated to Greece and supported by local shipyards. However, the Greek outlet Kathimerini has reported, that negotiations have hit a stumbling block over Ukraine’s request to retain influence over operational use—something Athens is unwilling to accept.

For Kyiv, USVs are a critical tool in its naval strategy against Russia in the Black Sea. Greece, meanwhile, views the systems through a different lens: as a potential advantage in the Aegean, where it faces long-running maritime tensions with Türkiye, which developed its own USV capabilities in 2021.

Greek officials reportedly believe Ukraine’s position may be shaped by its broader diplomatic balancing act with Ankara, the outlet speculates. Türkiye has played a key mediating role between Moscow and Kyiv so far, hosting multiple rounds of direct talks in Antalya and Istanbul, while also remaining a key defence partner to Ukraine. As a NATO member controlling access to the Black Sea under the Montreux Convention, which remains a vital battleground for Kyiv, Ankara holds significant strategic leverage.

Another Greek media outlet warned that accepting Kyiv’s proposed “veto clause” would effectively undermine the usefulness of the drones for the Hellenic Navy, limiting Greece’s operational autonomy.

It further notes that talks have not collapsed despite the disagreement. Greek military officials recently travelled to Ukraine to carry out technical assessments of the program, signalling continued interest on both sides.

The initiative to jointly produce naval drones was originally agreed at the highest political level, between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 

The broader aim of the deal remains to give Greece access to battlefield-tested Ukrainian technologies while expanding production capacity beyond Ukraine.

By Nazrin Sadigova