President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is expanding its defense export ambitions, pushing negotiations with Denmark, Norway, and Germany, while also initiating multibillion-dollar drone contracts with the United States.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, July 25, Zelensky announced that Kyiv is in talks with European countries to establish production lines abroad for Ukrainian-made weapons, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
He confirmed an agreement has already been reached with Denmark, which will fund drone production during wartime under a 50/50 model with Ukraine’s private sector.
“[These drones] worth 100, 200, 300 million will be manufactured and transferred to Ukraine during the war.” Zelensky said. “The production line is 50/50 with the private sector…After the war, Denmark will use the same lines to fill stockpiles for their army.”
Interfax-Ukraine reported Zelensky also revealed that, in a deal discussed with US President Donald Trump, he ordered Defense Council Secretary Rustem Umerov, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Presidential Advisor Oleksandr Kamyshin to prepare contracts worth between $10 billion and $30 billion for drone sales to the United States.
Zelensky previously said Trump is interested in purchasing unique Ukrainian drones. “There are many drones that only we have. And we’re discussing this with President Trump. I told him I really want to buy things from you that only the US has. He told me that America wants to buy Ukrainian drones… I truly want America to help us defend our skies. That’s very important,” Zelensky said in an interview with Newsmax correspondent Shelby Wilder in Kyiv, Interfax-Ukraine reported.
Ukraine plans to start sharing its military technologies with “partner countries in Europe and beyond,” as well as establishing production lines for drones, missiles, and artillery abroad, Zelensky said.