Donald Trump negotiates a 'mega deal' on drones with Ukraine

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky

Kyiv offered to share with Washington all the experience acquired during the three years of war with Russia

President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, are exploring the possibility of a mega-deal involving the purchase by the United States of Ukrainian drones tested in combat, in exchange for Ukraine acquiring a series of American weaponry.

According to the Ukrainian leader, the most recent conversations with Trump revolved around a possible strategic agreement that would allow both countries to collaborate in the development and strengthening of their technological capabilities in air defense.

In informal talks, Kyiv has offered to share with Washington all the experience acquired during the three years of war with Russia, focused especially on the intensive use of drones on the battlefield.

If finalized, this agreement could represent a deep change for the United States armed forces and its national security apparatus. Experts and officials have been warning that American drone technology is lagging behind the advances of other powers.

Zelensky seeks an agreement

"The American people need this technology, and it is necessary to have it in their arsenal," stated the Ukrainian president, highlighting the capabilities of Ukrainian drones that managed to penetrate Russian defenses and reach targets almost 1,300 kilometers (808 miles) inside enemy territory.

The use of drones has become the main form of combat in the war between Ukraine and Russia, with both countries launching hundreds of explosive-laden attacks daily.

Zelensky seeks an agreement

The use of drones has become the main form of combat in the war between Ukraine and Russia, with both countries launching hundreds of explosive-laden attacks daily.

Military analysts have long maintained that the conflict is being closely watched by many nations as a model of how a modern war could unfold. The growing drone bombardments by the Kremlin on Ukrainian territory underscore the destructive potential of this new form of combat.

Drones in the war between Russia and Ukraine

Meanwhile, as Russia continues to manufacture its own suicide drones inspired by Iranian models, Ukraine has intensified local production of unmanned aerial vehicles to respond forcefully on the battlefield.

One of the most striking attacks took place last month, when 117 Ukrainian drones carried out the so-called "Operation Spiderweb," destroying numerous Russian aircraft stationed at four different military bases.

A month later, a Ukrainian drone managed to travel more than 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) to successfully attack a surface-to-air missile production plant of the Kremlin in the city of Izhevsk.

In addition, in May, Ukraine marked a milestone by celebrating the first downing of a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea using a naval drone, showing the growing prominence of these devices in the conflict.

United States wants to intensify its drone production

The possible agreement between the two nations coincides with a new directive from the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, who ordered a reduction of bureaucracy in the production of military drones to accelerate their development and deployment.

In a recent memorandum, the Pentagon emphasized the urgency for the United States to maintain its pace in the face of the global surge in drone manufacturing: "We were brought here to rebuild the army and adapt its capabilities to today's threats," Hegseth declared.