The Trump administration is negotiating with Ukraine over a potential agreement that would give American companies and the military access to Kyiv’s drone technology, in exchange for royalties, compensation, or joint production arrangements.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister is leading discussions in Washington this week with Pentagon and State Department representatives.
The deal, supported by President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, would allow the U.S. to leverage Ukraine’s expertise in producing inexpensive, battle-tested unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Ukrainian forces have developed innovative drones and tactics since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, including First Person View attack drones, marine drones, and AI-assisted systems.
Ukraine produced more than 2 million drones last year, often at 20% to 30% of Western production costs.
U.S. defense and technology companies stand to benefit from access to Ukrainian designs and production methods, potentially incorporating them into domestic manufacturing.
Proposed arrangements include Ukrainian firms licensing technology to American companies, establishing U.S.-based production subsidiaries, or directly selling drones to the U.S. military.
The deal could enhance U.S. forces’ competitive advantage in UAVs while supporting Ukraine’s broader defense needs, including the purchase of high-end American weapons.
Analysts emphasize that learning from Ukraine’s rapid innovation and battlefield experience would provide strategic insight into modern drone operations.
Similar partnerships are already underway in Europe, where countries like the U.K. and Denmark are working with Ukrainian companies to produce drones and related systems.
For the U.S., the prospective agreement represents an opportunity to access proven technology, strengthen domestic capabilities, and benefit from lessons drawn from active combat deployment.
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