Ukraine and the United States are negotiating a deal that would allow the joint production and export of Ukrainian-made drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on his return from Washington.
Zelensky told reporters on Sunday, including Kyiv Post’s correspondent, that talks match a proposed US arms purchase – which he called the “Mega Deal” – with a “Drone Deal” to buy and export Ukrainian unmanned systems.
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“We have always said that there are two aspects: the Mega Deal – regarding the purchase of American weapons, and the Drone Deal – regarding the purchase of Ukrainian drones,” Zelensky said.
“They go hand in hand because the Mega Deal includes various missiles and air defense systems, and the Drone Deal includes all the other drones we need today: those that we cannot sell and those that we can export.”
Zelensky said Ukraine produces thousands of naval drones and could sell excess systems to partners.
“We produce 4,000 – we need 2,000. Why not sell the other 2,000 to partners? Let companies sell them. We buy weapons, so our companies can sell them too. This is absolutely normal,” he said.
Zelensky also argued that modern warfare requires a mix of long-range missiles and massed drone strikes.
“In Ukraine’s combined operations, long-range missiles account for a certain percentage, while the majority comprises Ukrainian-made drones and missiles,” he said.
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“That is why these are combined operations – to achieve positive results against military targets.”
He acknowledged that the United States has long-range missiles such as Tomahawk but said US manfacturers lack the battlefield experience that Ukrainian companies have gained.
“The US has a large industry, yet the industry itself says: ‘We don’t have your practice today, and undoubtedly your drones are the best today’,” he said. He added that Ukraine is open to joint production with American companies, either in Ukraine or in partner countries.
Zelensky reiterated that Kyiv wants to keep the manufacturing of drone technology in Ukraine where possible because it was developed under combat conditions.
“You should not simply give the technologies away. Share them, build partnerships with countries, let them take an equity stake in your company and become partners,” he said.
Ukraine has been preparing proposals for controlled exports of domestically produced weapons, including naval drones, for the last month, Zelensky said.
He said Kyiv will offer proven systems that have helped protect sea lanes in the Black Sea to “reliable partners” under controlled agreements and was hoping for “strong contracts.”
On Friday, ahead of reception at the White House, Volodymyr Zelensky met with US defense giants Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, seeking to accelerate long-sought after air defense and missile support as Russia steps up attacks ahead of winter.
At Raytheon, which produces Tomahawk missiles and Patriot systems, Zelensky discussed “potential avenues for cooperation to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and long-range capabilities,” and the prospects for Ukrainian-American joint production.
He then met separately with Lockheed Martin to outline Ukraine’s urgent need for more air defense systems, missiles, and F-16 aircraft.
“Russia is striking Ukraine more brutally ahead of winter, and now is the moment we need to strengthen our air defense. We understand the concrete steps needed for our protection and are working to implement them,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.
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