U.S. and Ukraine draft landmark drone defense deal

Ukraine and the United States are moving toward a landmark defense cooperation agreement focused on drone technology.

1news.media reports, citing CBS, the proposed deal would allow Ukraine to export military drone technology to the U.S. and establish joint production ventures with American defense companies, marking a significant expansion of wartime defense cooperation.

The initiative comes as Ukraine seeks to scale up its rapidly growing drone industry, which has become central to its military operations during the war with Russia and increasingly relevant in global conflicts, including the ongoing war involving Iran.

Ukrainian officials say their battlefield experience has produced advanced systems in areas such as drone interception and electronic warfare, with Kyiv already sharing expertise and personnel with U.S. partners and allied states in the Middle East.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing multiple international agreements, noting that “nearly 20 countries are currently involved at various stages” of defense cooperation talks.

The draft agreement with Washington follows earlier discussions initiated in 2025 and reflects growing U.S. interest in Ukrainian drone capabilities, despite political hesitation within parts of the U.S. administration.

Officials involved in the talks say the memorandum is an early but significant step toward a broader defense partnership, though key issues such as intellectual property protection and production priorities remain unresolved.