Ukraine-Greece Naval Drone Production Talks Stall Over Kyiv's Demand for Operational Control

Negotiations between Ukraine and Greece over the joint production of naval drones have stalled because Kiev wants to retain control over how Athens could use the technology, local media reported. According to Greek Reporter, the countries agreed last November that Ukraine would supply components for drones built at Greek shipyards, while Greek companies would manufacture electronic and optical systems. The end result would have been an improved version of the Magura-type attack drones Ukraine uses against Russia. The newspaper Kathimerini reported on Thursday, however, that Ukrainian officials had demanded that Kiev retain a say over how the Greek military would use the drones, a condition Athens rejected. Greece believes Ukraine set these terms to "maintain a balance" with its longtime rival Türkiye, the newspaper said. Greece and Türkiye have long accused each other of fueling tensions, with Athens reportedly opposing Ankara's bid to join the EU's Drone Wall program aimed at improving the bloc's ability to detect and intercept hostile UAVs. Türkiye hosted Russian-Ukrainian peace talks in 2022 and 2025, presenting itself as a neutral mediator in the conflict. Ankara also condemned Ukrainian attacks on Russian-linked tankers near the Turkish coast last year.