President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a broadcast interview on Friday that cooperation between Kyiv and Washington on unmanned aerial vehicles would extend to production on American soil, leveraging Ukrainian technological advances.
The interview, conducted by U.S. right-wing blogger Laura Loomer and made available on X, conveyed Zelenskiy’s intention to move quickly from an initial drone agreement with Washington to fuller industrial collaboration. Zelenskiy said he wanted to accelerate implementation of that first pact.
Describing the pace of development, Zelenskiy said drone technology was in continuous flux and highlighted the extended operational range of Ukrainian systems. "Ukrainian drones now able to operate over 3,000 km (1,800 miles) with the prospect of even longer distances," he said, noting the potential for further improvements.
Ukraine’s emphasis on unmanned systems has grown as the country has pursued asymmetrical tactics against Russia during a conflict now in its fourth year. Zelenskiy said Kyiv has shared its drone advances with some partners and framed the effort as mutually beneficial. "Important technology. This is what we have. And America has great technology. Our drone deal is win-win," he said in the interview.
On the question of manufacturing, Zelenskiy said a U.S.-based facility would be part of the plan. "We will build a great factory in the United States. We want to (have) lines of production," he said, describing an intent to establish production lines in America using Ukrainian know-how.
In Washington, a source familiar with the matter said particulars of an agreement were still being worked out ahead of Zelenskiy’s scheduled talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to a White House official. That source indicated negotiations on the finer points of cooperation remain ongoing.
A report from Kyiv this week quoting a source familiar with the matter said Ukraine had consented to export drones to the United States to take part in the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance programme. The same source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said six Ukrainian companies have been permitted to export roughly 100 drones each.
Other media outlets in Ukraine reported that the two sides had signed a statement of intent intended to establish the basis for a partnership on joint production. The available accounts indicate a framework but do not specify final contractual terms or timelines.
While Zelenskiy described the arrangements as a win-win and outlined ambitions for U.S.-based manufacturing, officials and sources cited in various reports emphasized that concrete details are still under negotiation and that permissions for exports to the United States have been granted to a limited number of firms.