Ukraine will export drones to the US

This is the first such agreement between these nations, noted Alex Raufoglu, a Washington correspondent for Radio Free Europe. The agreement marks a turning point in American-Ukrainian defence cooperation. Ukraine is ceasing to be solely a recipient of equipment and aid, becoming an exporter and supplier itself. The agreement is currently preliminary; however, it could lead to the production of Ukrainian drones on United States territory in the future.

Ukrainian UAVs will be part of the „Drone Dominance” programme announced by the Pentagon. As part of the project, the US Department of Defence intends to spend one billion dollars between 2026 and 2027 on the purchase of small combat UAVs and to develop domestic production of such machines.

Kyiv is also expanding drone cooperation in other regions. At the end of April, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had proposed a cooperation programme called „Drone Deals” to its partners. It involves the sale of certain types of drones and the transfer of related technologies. Detailed agreements have been signed with several countries.

Ukraine is also cooperating with American allies in the Middle East who are facing strikes from Iran. Kyiv has sent equipment and specialists trained in drone warfare to the region.

Regarding cooperation with Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Monday that the joint production of UAVs was one of the topics of her conversation with the new Ukrainian Prime Minister, Serhii Koretskyi.